Reflecting on the first two weeks

These two+ weeks have been a great learning experience, and here are some of my thoughts:

• It looks like I need to work with a bigger size image.  Right now, what I’m working on is the same size that you see it online.  That also means that the thinnest line I can make is 1 pixel, or the size of the lines that form the panels (when they are used) or around the box at the end that says Cont. or End.  I’d like to have a bit more control than that.  Of course, it may also be my skill with the graphic tablet and using pressure when drawing.
• Stick figures are limiting – I need to move on to a more detailed cartoon style so the faces can be more expressive and the people more recognizable (with patterned clothes and other details).  Maybe some characters will be forthcoming?
• The 4 panel newspaper strip format is limiting, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.  It’s made me think a lot about how to sequence the storyline.  This week’s strip went through 4-5 different versions before I settled on what you see.  Until almost the end, there was going to be a follow-up strip next week, but then I decided it was done.  It makes me appreciate the work of Berke Breathed & Bill Watterson all the more, but I may switch to a more comic book page-oriented format.  The creative possibilities increase exponentially that way.
• I’m getting a feel for comics much more quickly than I did with music production, my overriding passion for the past 10+ years.  (It can be argued that I never really did get a feel for music, but that’s a topic for another day.)
• Getting to know your tools better helps a LOT.  The actual drawing went more smoothly this time and part of it was getting used to using the tablet.   Learning a few keyboard shortcuts was good too, but I need to master a few more.