Draw mode: ON

I complete my last course for grad school just prior to Thanksgiving, and now it's time to draw again!

At first I started work on penciling a short vignette, the second of three about my experiences working at a sandwich shop when I first moved to Saint Louis. Monica inked the last few stories I've drawn (which was a great experience, as I had to try to get my pencils as finished as possible), but she's not available to ink this latest. That's fine, as I am hired to pencil, ink, color, and letter a shortie for an Image Comics creator-owned property (and wow I needed the warm-up).

After pencils, I didn't get much inking in before I had to turn to the Image ditty. But there, pencils complete, now back to inks for my own project to prep for inks for Image!

Image one, my drafting table. Yes, I am still drawing on paper. Once I am finished my thesis, I will likely convert to iPad and Procreate. For now, my bandwidth for learning something new is limited.

Images two and three, selfies for photo reference. I used to call upon whatever friend I was sitting with, "hold your hand like this," or moving their arm in the right position for me to quick sketch. Not much hanging out in coffee houses with friends since Covid hit, but now there's no need to torment them.
 

Hunk with a book

Always nice to see, but still, leash the pooch.

Took me over two years to fill this sketch book, though I carried it everywhere. Lack of travel added to the lack of entries, but it was probably grad school that slowed the pencil from moving a bit.

CLAMANTIS (and, grad school, apparently)

I was asked to create the cover to the Spring/Summer 2021 issue of Clamantis, the Dartmouth MALS peer review journal. I didn't have much time to do so, but I was honored, and truly value the peer review process. These are the thumbnail sketches.

I've not touched on this much, but I have been attending graduate school part-time since Summer 2019. It was a bit of a scramble start, as I was trying to wrap up final art chores on Liebestrasse by the end of that summer.

I went through the summer ethics workshops and the symposium, but was terrified to enter a classroom that fall after so long! I jumped right in though, taking two of the (for me) most difficult requirements right off. 

My first three terms were in-person, then COVID hit just was Winter 2020 term was ending, and my next five courses were remote. My Summer 2021 term was a bit messed up as well, as the study abroad workshop was cancelled last minute. I just completed my last course, Fall 2021.

From here, I will fingers crossed sign up for the Summer 2022 study abroad workshop. That, and my thesis, are all that's left. I'm nearly done my "research" phase of the thesis and by January will be in the "writing" phase. 

My goal was to have three pieces published in the peer-review journal; I've now had four pieces (plus the cover) published, and will keep submitting until I am finished my thesis. That should be two more issues. 

The program in creative writing has been transformational, and just what I needed to balance the efforts I've made to improve my draftsmanship.

Zeke

I found myself on a plane again, shortly after the trip to France with Monica. This time, to Austin, Texas, where I stayed with... Monica.

Sort of!

I was traveling for my day job, and Monica needed a cat sitter. So the first few days I was there, I was with Zeke. And then Monica arrived.

I do like cats, the eyeing the sofa, torn to shreds and held together my duct tape, reminded me what a wild card they can be.

Zeke also seemed miffed I arrived and that I wasn't his person.He made a real mess of his kitty litter for sport or spite.

He finally warmed up to me, as I provided the armpit he needed.

Overall, my first cat-sitting went fairly well. And it was nice to see Monica again so soon.
 

Monsters with cocoa

 Not really sure what was going on here, just some monsters, eventually enjoying winter.

Voici Angouleme

 

After many attempts, we finally persuaded Monica to go to Angouleme! Jeff hadn't been in some time, and it was a fun trip overall. A mix of retreading familiar grounds, but with a fresh and wide-eyed perspective. 

For the first time, we stayed Sunday night. On Monday, the village was a charming ghost town. That afternoon, Marie Claude brought us to her hometown for a walkabout. That evening, Monica and I were planted at the CDG Ibis for early flights the next morning.

Halt

Here's a little treat for you. A little sketch from a paper agenda (rare now!) cut and pasted and added to. Not sure what's going on here. But to the left you see a little rendition of the "Josie" logo as Monica and I were brainstorming Josie ideas at the time.