New Title Page today!
I know, I know. Title Pages are never the most exciting. Come back next Wednesday for the first page of Issue #15 and hold onto your seats. This one is a rollercoaster ride unlike any of the issues before it.
Watch Me Draw!
In the meantime, watch me draw! It’s been awhile since I mentioned that I also podcast and write a blog about How to Make Comics called Paper Wings.
This is the only time I’ve ever recorded myself drawing. I’m using the very same technique I use when drawing The Dreamer. In fact, the lovely lady in this video is Bea. This is done in Sketchbook Pro, which is the program I draw The Dreamer with.
Click on the link to watch me talk about drawing different fabric types.
This video is about how to draw clothes. It was very popular over at Paper Wings. I hope you enjoy it here.
For those of you who write or draw, Paper Wings is full of blog posts, tutorials and podcast episodes. My co-host is Chris Oatley, a Disney character designer. We did a jam piece for The Dreamer once: I drew the Issue #4 cover and he painted it.
All Grown Up.
And I want to give a shout out to two VIP Dreamers this week.
Susan Naramore who attended the opening of the Nathan Hale School House, wrote a lovely blog inspired by that event about The Dreamer, historical narrative, and applying what she’s learned to the historic site where she works, the Claremont State Historic Site in New York. Way to go, Susan!
And Sarah Searle, one of my Paper Wings Apprentices, recently finished up her online graphic novel Under The Apple Tree. Because most of the work Sarah did during that apprenticeship was behind the scenes, you might not know she helped with Dreamer layouts during issues 13 & 14. Under the Apple Tree is a WWII era story about a young girl who moves from busy Boston to rural Maine… and upon moving into her new (old) house, she meets a Civil War ghost. You guys will love it, and now that it’s finished, you can read it beginning to end. I’m so proud of you, Sarah! It’s beautiful.
See You Next Week!
Come back Monday to read about the rest of my time in Connecticut this past weekend. Spoiler: I got to meet one of my favorite people, but it might not be who you think…
This. Is. AWESOME!!!! Thank you sooo much for the tutorial!!!! I fail at decent clothes EVERY time!!!!!
Glad you found it helpful!
I’ve been following this comic for a while now and each week the wait just gets more and more tortorous, since I flew through years’ with of updates in about a day. Meaning, of course, thank you so much for updating twice a week. I can’t wait for Issue 15 and more lovely work!
On the tutorial: How on earth do you get your lines so smooth?! Every time I draw on a tablet, it’s always so shaky looking and digitized. Your lines are like butter or something!
Thanks so much for creating this! It gives me something extra to look at every week.
The program is Sketchbook Pro.
It took me a few years before I was comfortable doing my final line digitally. Until issue 11 (I think) all the final art you saw in the comic was still drawn by hand, though I had been doing my rough underdrawings digitally. They weren’t pretty or polished enough to pass as final art though.
The first page I ever did all digitally was only after I discovered Sketchbook Pro because it simulates real drawing and real pencils so well I could finally get the detail and variation I got out of drawing with pencils and bristol board.
Play around and just do it a lot. Good luck! Practice makes perfect.
And btw, thanks for the kind words on The Dreamer!
Very informative. Now I know where to go for drawing tips if I ever decide to go into this profession.
Check out Paper Wings! Full of this stuff. And even more about Story than Drawing over there.
What an awesome tutorial! Love it. Although I disagree with your last statement–I always notice how much thought goes into your drawings. They’re amazing. :)
:) thanks.
Cool tutorial; is that from the new issue or an upcoming one? Also, which time period has a higher difficulty/learning curve for clothing drawing? Also also, my fave clothing scene was the bit in issue 14 where Alan is getting his shoes polished while Beatrice tells him how to behave at dinner.
hmm… I’m not sure? I know all those little buttons, etc, in the 18th century timeline take a lot longer to draw. Plus, getting all the ellipses right on the buttons takes time. So 18th century I guess gets my vote.
And, that’s a fab clothing scene! Nice choice! I might have to go with this one: http://thedreamercomic.com/comic.php?id=225
Love the clothing tutorial. I love art tutorials in general. Back when I was in college I played with the idea of a online graphic novel. It degenerated into an online comic strip idea. It then degenerated into, “Are you crazy, you don’t have time to do this stuff!”
On another note and out of curiosity, how many issues make up an act?
In this one 17. The next two will surely be shorter!
Thanks for the link and praise! : )
No problem! :)
Thanks for the link to the other comic! :) Of course, now you’re also to blame for the fact that I’ve not been working for the past 20 minutes, but reading a new story. Imagine my disappointment when I realized that the entire “Under the Apple Tree” story hadn’t been posted online yet. :P I’m downloading the full pdf version right now…such a bad influence Lora! :P
Sarah, your story is fascinating, and your art style is lovely! :)
Oh noes! :( The download for the pdf keeps breaking before I get more than the first two pages! :( Is there any way to download it as a file (“save as” kind of thing) instead of just trying to download the whole thing in the browser for “instant” viewing? I’m not sure if my question makes sense since I don’t know enough techno-babble to explain what I’m talking about…but hopefully you’ll understand Sarah! :)
Try this link and “save as”. I downloaded and read the whole story.
http://www.swinsea.com/UtAT.pdf
Thank you!!
Thank you for your help Kadee, I hope that worked Julie!
Oh my word, the cover of this issue just about made me drop my breakfast!! WHAT HAPPENS?!?!?! Lol. By the way, I love the verse on your second page. One of my favorites :). I’ll watch the video as soon as I can!!
Oooooooo–Great tutorial!! Just finished it! I am so terrible at drawing clothes. This is SUCH A HUGE HELP TO ME :)
Yay! I’m glad.
Thanks so much for the mention!
Also, I really like the quote for the title page. A little depressing, but really good!
no prob!
Hey, I was sent by Felicia Day and I have got to say that I was immediately hooked. This is a gorgeous story and GORGEOUS art. I’ve always been a huge fan of historical fiction and adding in such a great romance was just what I needed. Keep up the great work! I’m already mad that I caught up so quickly and have to wait until wednesday for an update.
Cheers!
Laura
Welcome, Laura! That was a fun surprise to find out we’d been mentioned on her Vlog. Glad some of you followed the link!