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Cover Art

• gc-cvr1.jpg – cover art idea sketch; Aena and Alshina full standing figures, back-to-back, holding hands; cloudy sky background; hand-lettered title [hand drawn in pencil]
• gc-cvr2.jpg – cover art idea sketch; large Aena portrait with chibi winged Alshina on shoulder; with chibi versions of Kasha, Zalanda, and Suko; shaded background; hand-lettered title[hand drawn in pencil]
• gc-cvr3.jpg – cover art idea sketch; large Aena portrait on left; partial figure of Kasha in background with hair flowing around her, performing a spell, with beams of light around her hands; blank background; roughly hand-rendered title [hand drawn in pencil]
• gc-cvr4.jpg – cover art idea sketch; partial figure of Aena in front centre, looking cute and giggling; extended portrait of Alshina on left; partial figure of Suko on right; partial figure of Zalanda in profile view preparing to shoot an arrow; scribbled background; handwritten title [hand drawn in pencil]
• gc-cvr5.jpg – cover art idea sketch; partial figures; Alshina and Suko on left; Aena in front centre; Zalanda behind on right holding an arrow; Kasha in back on right holding one hand out in front, with her hair flowing to the side; scribbled background; handwritten title [hand drawn in pencil]
• greencorner1.jpg – final cover art for book #1; based on gc-cvr2.jpg ; with forest background; hand lettered title floating in forest tree-tops [pen and ink, erased pencil under-drawing, on cold press board, original 9" x 12"]

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Penciled Pages from Act 1: The Bookshop

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Inking Progress Pages from Act 1: The Bookshop

page one

• aena_ch1_line-ink.jpg – initial line work of Aena, limited filled greys
• ch1-p1_bg_ink.jpg – initial background line work
• ch1-p1_ink1.jpg – Aena in flat greys, limited shading; in front of background
• ch1-p1_ink2.jpg – more shading added to Aena; limited shading added to background
• ch1-p1_ink3.jpg – shading of Aena completed; shading and detail of background completed
• ch1-p1_ink3large.jpg – larger version of ch1-p1_ink3.jpg
• ch1-p1_bg_ink2.jpg – larger version of background, not cut to printable area; bleeds are visible (the parts that get cut off of the page in print)

page two

• ch1-p2_aenac-flat.jpg – flat colour of Aena for the first panel
• ch1-p2_inkc-flat.jpg – added flat colour of Aena in second panel; flat background colour laid in both panels
• ch1-p2_inkc2.jpg – Aena and book shaded in second panel; flat background colour changed in first panel
• ch1-p2_inkc3.jpg – shading added to Aena in first panel
• ch1-p2_inkc4.jpg – shading completed for Aena in first panel
• ch1-p2_inkc5.jpg – colour background added to first panel

page three

• ch1-p3_ink1.jpg – background in greys for top panel and second panel; Alshina line work with limited greys for second panel; dialogue balloon placed
• ch1-p3_ink2.jpg – partial Alshina line work with limited greys for final panel; top background adjusted; dialogue balloon adjusted
• ch1-p3_ink3.jpg – flat colour and limited colour detail added to Alshina in panel two; line work completed and flat colour added to Alshina in panel three; desk with books added and coloured for panel three
• ch1-p3_ink4.jpg – shading added to Alshina in panel two
• ch1-p3_ink4_crop.jpg – closer, larger view of Alshina and background from panel two
• ch1-p3_ink4b.jpg – shading added to background in panel two
• ch1-p3_ink4b_crop.jpg – closer, larger view of Alshina and background from panel two
• ch1-p3_ink5.jpg – shading added to Alshina in panel three; detail added to books in panel three
• ch1-p3_ink6.jpg – grey figure of Alshina carrying books added to panel one
• ch1-p3_final.jpg – shading added to Alshina in panel one; poster and shading added to background of panel one
• ch1-p3b_final.jpg – height of desk adjusted in panel one; dialogue balloon adjusted

page four

• ch1-p4_ink1.jpg – background for panel two in partial colour; coloured desk placed for panel one; shelving unit for panel one partially drawn; dialogue balloon placed
• ch1-p4_ink2.jpg – dialogue balloons adjusted; partial colour and more books added to shelving unit in panel one; desk adjusted in panel one; panel two background moved; desk in panel two adjusted
• ch1-p4_ink2bg.jpg – ch1-p4_ink2.jpg without the dialogue balloons
• ch1-p4_ink3.jpg – remaining books added to shelving unit in panel one; bottom of shelving units adjusted in panels one and two; desk moved in panels one and two
• ch1-p4_ink4.jpg – depth added to remaining books on shelving unit in panel one
• ch1-p4_ink5.jpg – line work of Alshina holding book with limited colour details added to panel one; background and dialogue balloon for panel one moved slightly
• ch1-p4_ink6.jpg – lengths of Alshina's sleeves adjusted in panel one; length of one of Alshina's arms adjusted in panel one; poster coloured; book moved slightly in panel one
• ch1-p4_ink7.jpg – flat colour and some shading added to Alshina in panel one, book moved slightly in panel one
• ch1-p4_ink7bg.jpg – closer, larger view of background from panel two
• ch1-p4_ink8.jpg – ribbons and more shading added to Alshina in panel one
• ch1-p4_ink9.jpg – shading completed for Alshina in panel one; flat colour background added to panel one
• ch1-p4_ink10.jpg – line work and flat colour of Aena and Alshina added to panel three; dialogue balloons adjusted accordingly
• ch1-p4_ink11.jpg – shading added to Aena and Alshina in panel three
• ch1-p4_ink12.jpg – shading completed for Aena and Alshina in panel three; line work and flat grey of Aena added to panel two
• ch1-p4_final.jpg – shading added to Aena in panel two; line work and shaded grey of Alshina added to panel two; final dialogue balloon position adjusted

page five

• ch1-p5_ink1.jpg – partial background for panel two, complete background for panel three, dialogue placed.
• ch1-p5_ink2.jpg – altered background for panel two.
• ch1-p5_ink3.jpg – line work completed for panel one, with some flat colour. Added background colouring for panel one and adjusted placement of dialogue in panel one to compensate for figure of Alshina.
• ch1-p5_ink4.jpg – flat colour and shading completed for Alshina and stool in panel one.
• ch1-p5_ink4-close.jpg – close-up of panel one from ch1-p5_ink4.jpg.
• ch1-p5_ink5.jpg – line work completed for panel three (backgrounds hidden for a clear view of the line work).
• ch1-p5_ink6.jpg – flat colour completed for panel three, some details added to Alshina. Shading added to desk.
• ch1-p5_ink7.jpg – shading completed for panel three.
• ch1-p5_ink8.jpg – line work of Aena completed for panel two (some backgrounds hidden for a clear view of the line work).
• ch1-p5_ink9.jpg – flat colour completed for Aena and shading added to desk in panel two.

page six

• ch1-p6_ink1.jpg – line work completed for Aena in panel two, dialogue placed, panel borders placed.
• ch1-p6_ink4.jpg – backgrounds complete, shading complete for Alshina in panel one, flat colour complete for Aena in panel two.
• ch1-p6-ink5-grab.jpg – screen grab of line work for Aena in panel three (later re-drawn)

page seven

• ch1-p7_ink1.jpg – line work in panel one mostly complete, border for panel one set, dialogue placed.
• ch1-p7_ink2.jpg – line work and flat colour completed for figures in panel one, some flat colour added for scene elements in panel one and main panel border.
• ch1-p7_ink3.jpg – background pattern added for panel one, line work and flat colour completed for Aena in panel two, main swirls added.
• ch1-p7_ink4.jpg – background elements added for panel one, shading added for Aena in panel two, details added to cloud border and swirls.
• emg_tutorial.pdf – more images of this page available in my “Creating Comics with Adobe Illustrator” tutorial

page eight

• ch1-p8_ink1.jpg – text placed, line work completed for Aena in both panels
• ch1-p8_ink1bg.jpg – initial background elements placed and coloured (with text visible)
• ch1-p8_ink2.jpg – line work completed for Alshina in panel two, flat colour complete for page
• ch1-p8_ink3-preshade.jpg – crop of Aena in panel two showing the lines drawn prior to shading with livepaint
• ch1-p8_ink3.jpg – shading added for page

page nine

• ch1-p9_ink1.jpg – initial linework and placed dialogue
• ch1-p9_ink1bg.jpg – initial background
• ch1-p9_ink2.jpg – linework completed for figures, insert panel of bell added
• ch1-p9_ink3.jpg – flat colour added to figures, shadow added to desk, background made visible, some colour and details added to insert panel
• ch1-p9_ink4.jpg – partial shading completed

page ten

• ch1-p10_ink1b.jpg – initial linework and placed dialogue
• ch1-p10_ink1c.jpg – extended linework for Zalanda and Kasha
• ch1-p10_ink2.jpg – flat colour and partial shading added to figures
• ch1-p10_ink2b.jpg – some colour adjustments made to Zalanda's outfit, shading completed for figures
• ch1-p10_ink2c.jpg – initial background elements added
• ch1-p10_ink3.jpg – wall colour adjusted, detail added to the floor, borders added to the doors and windows
• ch1-p10_ink4.jpg – shop logo added to the doors, shelving units added to either side of the main aisle

page eleven

• ch1-p11_ink1.jpg – initial linework, placed dialogue, initial background elements for panel two
• ch1-p11_ink1b.jpg – additional background elements added for panel two, colouring and shading nearly complete for Kasha
• ch1-p11_ink2.jpg – panel two completed; flat colour started for panel one, additional linework added to background of panel one
• ch1-p11_ink3.jpg – linework and flat colour for background elements in panel one, some extra details added
• ch1-p11_ink3b.jpg – partial shading completed for panel one

page twelve

• ch1-p12_ink1.jpg – initial linework, 3D trophy, and placed text
• ch1-p12_ink2.jpg – border for insert panel started, linework completed for Aena, flat colour started for Kasha in profile and Aena, text on trophy edited for legibility
• ch1-p12_ink3.jpg – shading completed and background added for insert panel, shading started for Kasha in profile, bow added
• ch1-p12_ink4.jpg – shading completed for Kasha in profile, linework completed and flat colour started for spell-casting Kasha
• ch1-p12_ink4b.jpg – shading completed for spell-casting Kasha and facial features adjusted, details added to insert panel border and bottom banner, main background elements added
• ch1-p12_ink5.jpg – details added to fire ball, trophy placement adjusted, addition of Kasha in fighting stance

page thirteen

• ch1-p13_ink1.jpg – completed Kasha and started background for bottom panel, placed dialogue
• ch1-p13_ink2.jpg – completed Aena for panel two

page fourteen

• ch1-p14_ink1.jpg – linework completed for two panels, partial colouring and shading, placed dialogue
• ch1-p14_ink1b.jpg – more shading completed

page fifteen

• ch1-p15_ink1.jpg – completed linework, partial colouring, placed dialogue

page sixteen

• ch1-p16_ink1.jpg – completed linework, partial colouring, placed dialogue

page seventeen

• ch1-p17_ink1.jpg – completed linework, partial colouring, placed dialogue

page eighteen

• ch1-p18_ink1.jpg – partial linework and colouring, placed dialogue
• ch1-p18_ink2.jpg – completed linework, additional colouring, partial shading

page nineteen

• ch1-p19_ink1.jpg – partial linework and colouring, background elements started, placed dialogue
• ch1-p19_ink2.jpg – background completed, additional linework and colouring, some shading
• ch1-p19_ink3.jpg – additional shading

page twenty

• ch1-p20_ink1.jpg – background elements started, placed dialogue , initial line work and flat colour for Alshina
• ch1-p20_ink2.jpg – size adjustment for Alshina, initial linework and flat colour for Zalanda, some extra details added, adjustment of dialogue and background elements
• ch1-p20_ink3.jpg – shading for Zalanda and Alshina, addition of computer, adjustment of desk
• ch1-p20_ink4.jpg – addition of side shelf for background (placed file), initial linework and flat colour for second panel, adjusted Alshina's position

page twenty one

• 21-cringe-flat.jpg – Aena cringing and sitting on stool, line work and flat colours
• 21-cringe-shaded.jpg – Aena cringing, fully shaded with pain waves
• ch1-p21_ink3.jpg – added desk in front of Aena, placed dialogue, initial linework and flat colour for Zalanda
• ch1-p21_ink3b.jpg – Zalanda fully shaded, desk added for panel two (extended length)
• ch1-p21_ink3c.jpg – dialogue hidden, colours corrected for Zalanda, page dimensions fixed
• ch1-p21_ink4.jpg – initial linework and flat colour for bottom panel, background added to top panel, Zalanda's skirt length adjusted

page twenty two

• ch1-p22_ink1.jpg – initial linework and flat colour for panel one, desk added to panel one, dialogue placed
• ch1-p22_ink2.jpg – dialogue adjusted, desk adjusted in panel one, linework and flat colour for panel two, desk added to panel two
• ch1-p22_ink3.jpg – some positioning adjustments for panels one and two, backgrounds started for all panels, line work and flat colour for panel three
• ch1-p22_ink3b.jpg – minor adjustments to character clothing, adjustment of background in panel one, additions to background in panel two, adjustment of Aena's features in panel three, addition of minor details throughout
• ch1-p22_ink4.jpg – full shading completed for panel one and Zalanda in panel two, texture added to background in panel three, corrected desk shading in panel two

page twenty three

• ch1-p23_ink1.jpg – linework and flat colour for panels one and two, background added for panel two, dialogue placed, adjusted previously created artwork for use in panel four (full panel) and panel three (Kasha)
• ch1-p23_ink2.jpg – shading completed for panels one and two, initial linework and flat colour for panel five, backgrounds added to panels one, three, and five (re-used artwork), desk and computer added to panel three (adjusted previously created artwork)

page twenty four

• ch1-p24_ink1.jpg – initial line work and flat colouring for panels two and three, some basic background elements added to panels one, four, and five
• ch1-p24_ink2.jpg – panel one through three completed
• ch1-p24_ink3.jpg – Zalanda added to panel four
• ch1-p24_ink4.jpg – adjustments made to placement of dialogue, Suko added to panels four and five, adjustment to shelves in panel three, adjustment to placement of Zalanda in panel four
• ch1-p24_ink5.jpg – Kasha and Aena added to panel four with partial shading

page twenty five

• ch1-p25_ink1.jpg – dialogue and initial borders placed, panel one completed, panel two near completion, Kasha holding book added to panel four, Aena in flat colour added to panel five
• ch1-p25_ink2.jpg – book edited in panel two, Zalanda added to panel four, panel five completed, minor adjustment of dialogue balloon in panel four
• ch1-p25_ink3.jpg –background added to panel four, arm added for Kasha in panel four, Suko added to bottom panel
• ch1-p25_ink4.jpg – error in background of panel five fixed, flat colour of figures added to panel six, Suko completed and adjustment of dialogue balloon in panel seven

page twenty six

• ch1-p26_ink1.jpg – initial linework, flat colour, and beginning of scenery added to top panel, dialogue placed
• ch1-p26_ink2.jpg – background complete for top panel, shading completed for Suko and Alshina in top panel, line work and flat colour added for Aena.

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