Third Kara-versary

The past three years, from after I first launched 7″ Kara on February 11th, 2017, have not been practically as turbulent as the complete, on the different hand or not it has been fruitful for pattern and state.  Dozens of conventions, representing my possess book, becoming a member of SCBWI, common instructing gigs, taking share and moderating Ink Tumble Cafe, tabling at SPX with plenty of supreme sure books- I’m in a truly varied location from after I started painting the principle Kara pages. 

Whereas Kara will not be my first silly by a lengthy shot, or not it is miles the principle longform silly I became willing to allotment not handiest with chums, however with the accumulate as a entire, and with readers by the expend of the correct sure Volume 1.  It took a bunch of courage to commence importing silly pages three years within the past- the viewers for web comics in all fairness varied from the viewers for print comics, and I knew my most standard demographic will not be the expend of the accumulate but.  But I additionally knew sharing Kara as a webcomic would not handiest open me up to critique and criticism, however to doable friendships, and would give me of endeavor to dispute myself to on-line peers.

The worst response I’ve gotten is from folk who insist my fresh artistic skill based utterly mostly on what they gaze in Chapter 1- silly pages painted 8 years within the past!  Looking out at my work develop as I work on 7″ Kara has been in truth thrilling for me- I’ve at all times loved comics that evolved with the artist’s skill, as an different of sticking to an old school ‘trend’.  I’m elated with how a long way I’ve approach by manner of skill and comfort with the medium and the artform, and I take care of the expend of the distinction between Chapter 1 and Chapter 8 to encourage other artists to commence their possess projects.

Whereas engaged on Kara, I researched and realized so vital about watercolor.  Starting the Watercolor Fundamentals series here on the weblog helped gas that keenness, and as time stepped forward, I realized what papers, paints, and brushes labored handiest for Kara silly pages, and what I most standard to expend for standalone illustrations.

After I first started with Kara, I passe Cotman Pupil Grade pans on Canson’s cheapest 90lb watercolor paper, with cheap artificial brushes- the pages are rippled, the colours chalky, the mixes muddy.  I mercurial upgraded my paper in Chapter 2- I’ve reviewed a bunch of assorted papers through the years, and have tried even more, however I lucked out after I chosen Canson Montval for silly pages, as or not it is restful my preference.  And as time handed, I slowly switched out Cotman half pans for Winsor & Newton skilled half pans, after which later started experimenting with other skilled manufacturers.  My watercolor brush preference grew as time handed as successfully, and I began to favor natural hair brushes over synthetics.

I struggled to leer programs to color darker skintones, programs to color grass, programs to attract animals and never each and each silly web page or panel became a hit.  In overall I spent time doing watercolor study- practising sensible watercolors, painting varied scenerios, discovering out one thing restful every time I attempted to flex my wings.  But with out struggle we do not have success, and Naomi has change into one of my current characters to color, and steals the stage within the Volume 2 bonus chapter, Naomi’s Substantial Day.  And any individual who follows my Instagram is conscious of I take care of painting grass!

2018 and 2019 had been years that marked a necessity to ranking watercolors that performed higher than the Winsor & Newton watercolors I became the expend of, and more economical.  I modified into chums with Kabocha, a fellow watercolor enthusiast, and we exchanged notes and paint samples.  I shared tons of my reviews on Youtube, hoping to help other silly artists inquisitive about watercolor.

Engaged on 7″ Kara has inspired so many facets of my lifestyles, from instructing others programs to create their possess comics to discovering out watercolor.  I’m excited to gaze where my work will shuffle, and where inspiration will strike, as I work on the next two volumes.

VOLUME 1: