Seth Fisher and line v tone

Today would have been comic book artist Seth Fisher's 42nd birthday. I discovered his work some 10 years ago, and immediately fell in love with it, recognising a kindred spirit - someone with a similar love for detail, linework, and humour - but whose style and craftsmanship were (and probably will always be) far above mine, something for me to aspire to. If you don't know his work, pop over to FloweringNose.com and check it out. The first thing that will probably strike you is the crazy amounts of detail and the quirky/surreal humour. But Seth was also an exemplary draughtsman - his grasp of space and perspective were always spot on (perhaps due to his other love: maths). Here is a good example of all these aspects, with a nod to M. C. Escher (it's the line art to a page from Willworld, his take on Green Lantern):

Seth was a thinking artist. Most artists - especially of the comic book/illustrator variety - are problem solvers: getting perspective and anatomy right, getting things to fit, expressing character, telling a story and creating dramatic tension, etc. But Seth seemed to be especially concerned with technical issues, always looking for new ways to approach things, pushing the borders of convention. Seth's mum, Vicki Fisher, maintains a blog over at FloweringNose, which I recommend you to visit, where she discusses Seth's work at length. I won't attempt to rehash any of her insights here, but seeing his work again today reminded me of one of the key differences between artists: those who are more attracted to line, and those who are more drawn to tone and colour. I count myself among the former - as, I suspect, did Seth (although he was very adept with his use of colour). Obviously, any artist should really develop both sides, but even so there will always I think be a leaning one way or the other. This must make a difference with the way people draw, and how the brain processes and reproduces what it sees: those drawn to line, I think, are more aware of what it is that they are drawing, how it's constructed, what its purpose is (more left-brain verbal?), whereas those who operate in tone and colour think more in terms of how things appear to them (more sensuous, emotional, pictorial). Anyway, just my rambling thoughts - but it interests me. Anyone have any thoughts?

Back to the comic (trying not to be too depressed at how good Seth is...). Happy birthday big guy!

Reflections on a mini milestone, Part 1

Aside from some abortive attempts over the years, page 1 appears to be my first ever fully realised comic page. Well, 'fully realised' apart from colouring (and publication!). So, it's a milestone of sorts, and - strangely - I did get a mild euphoria on completing it. I know it's flawed, and there are umpteen things I would improve (and will hopefully learn from), but there's also a sort of relief in finally taking a step down a road you've been meaning to travel for years. And, as the saying goes, a thousand mile journey begins with one step. I know, I know - there's also that other saying: One swallow does not a summer make. However, emotionally and mentally, having made that first step, the second is already closer, and the third, and before you know it you're walking (or have a sky full of swallows - sorry, I've confused myself with my own mixed metaphors!). Anyway, my point seems to be, the invisible line between aspiration and realisation is one that can only be crossed by diving in. Or, as the green sage himself would put it: "Do, or do not. There is no try."

So, what have I learned from my one step? Firstly, not to be precious. What stopped me taking that first step for so long was the desire to make things perfect, to only produce something that would meet my highest self-imposed standards. But such an attitude is crippling to creativity. I could wait to be as good as my heroes - Seth Fisher, Arthur Adams, etc - but, to quote another favourite sage of mine, "That's a long wait for a train don't come". So, better to be flawed and productive that perfect and barren.

I think that's enough flowery nonsense concerning motivation. I'll save my technical reflections for Part 2.