Tag Archives: multicultural art history and geography.

A small test

Let’s see how many people are reading this blog…

I’m in the process of selling my books on Barnes and Noble.com and maybe getting them into Barnes and Noble Book stores. From reading the directions on the bn website, it seems fairly easy. They just need your ISBN and a copy of your book plus other information. I’ve also considered sending extra used copies I have at home to Powell’s Books. They offer the option to sell your used books online as well in their stores. I have no control over the book prices on Lulu. However, I think one way to get people to buy more books could be to sell them used which would lower the cost. Especially since the Graphic Novels are all being printed in color and can get a little expensive. I think selling them Barnes and Noble and Powell’s is a good idea.

Lulu Coupons!
Get 20% OFF on Gesso Squad Books  Enter Code: SWEET and save up to $200 dollars on lulu.com. Offer expires February 23, 2012
OR
 Get 25% OFF on Gesso Squad Books: SALTY and save up to $400 dollars on lulu.com. Offer expires February 23, 2012.

Ink and Paint

I haven’t been logging how many hours it takes to create one graphic novel from start to finish.  With the second volume due out soon, I have some idea of how long it takes to “render” one chapter. Technically, I’m doing the work of multiple people which includes: drawing, inking, painting, image and page layout.

Here’s the rundown for Chapter 6:

1.  1 to 2 hours to convert orignal text from the chapter book into a script.
2. 2 hours to storyboard from original screenplay.
3. 12 hours to sketch, ink and paint all the characters and backgrounds
4. 5 hours for scanning all of theses images  ( a total of 87 images including drawings and paintings ) into Adobe Illustrator.
5. 9 hours for compositing all of these images together. Assembling the image layout and adding all the diaglogue.
6. Less than 1 hour to assemble the page spreads in Adobe InDesign.

Chapter 7 is on it’s way to completion. So far the first two chapters in Volume Two are 20-22 pages in length. My guess is Chapter 7 will be no more than 25 at the most. The lower page count for this edition will make it much cheaper than Volume One, which was at 163 pages….

After Volume Two is complete, I may take a break from the drawing and painting. I’ve considered changing the format of the 2nd chapter book…possibly writing it in script format. Doing so would elminate the time of converting all the third person narrative into a screenplay….

Gesso Squad Graphic Novel Volume One: 1,000 Star Demons and a Rain God was entered into the Eric Hoffer Awards. I’ll get the results in Mid-March.

One day, I’ll get paid to illustrate and write these books. After Volume Two, there are eight more graphic novels…