A page out of a past sketchbook … the more serious life-drawing side of the sketchbook. Pen and Ink. Did this when I worked at the newspaper as staff cartoonist and artist… they’d send me out to sketch from life around the community. I used to love that.
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I have been drawing like a madman in my spare time (ha!) in my sketchbook. No matter how much work I have with my comics and illustration, I always seem to find a few minutes to just … doodle and sketch for pure enjoyment. It’s MY own little world, where anything goes, nothing has to be perfect (like the Dark Queen’s feet here, ha ha) and where I just let it all hang out and enjoy the act of drawing. This is the first page in my 8.5×11 Canson hardbound sketchbook I bought a few weeks back – started cranking in it and I love the paper – it inspires me to use various pens and pencil. Enjoy. I’m gonna have to start a “sketchbook” thread in the forum and see some of YOUR sketches! 
I’d love to see ‘em and comment on them and discuss with team LOB! (that means you!)
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Lou so kindly sent me some sketches he did of the characters in his sketchbook (anyone who’s been reading this blog long enough knows I have an obsessive affinity for sketchbooks, the comics-making process and sketches in general, so I LOVE to see this stuff) to warm up and get to know the characters on a “drawing them” level, for his guest strip (see above – published 11/20/08!) which I’d like to share with you here, as well as his note he sent along with them (hope Lou doesn’t mind, but I find such honesty and insight about one’s work to be refreshing and excellent for fellow cartoonists, including myself, to gleen from… it lets us know we’re all in this together, and always learning, every one of us!) And btw, Lou, you did a great job! Love these sketches. Enjoy, and comments welcome! Hm … maybe we need to start a sketch thread in the forums section…
Lou’s note:
“I attached the compositions of all four characters I used (Princess Gina, Bill, Frank and Sir Morton). I had a lot of fun drawing in your style, and learned a lot. I really like the way you did Bill’s jaw, it’s so simple yet so evocative. I went my own way with Sir Morton’s torso, because I needed places for coffee to pour out and we hadn’t seen it yet.
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I also included a really rough sketch of a waitress who I thought could bring the coffee to the table. I decided the strip was too cluttered already, and threw her out, but man it was a lot of fun to draw.
Thanks for being so supportive of fan art! It’s really great to have someone so encouraging and appreciative. I’m going to post all of these in my gallery as well.”
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Visit Lou’s site: www.yawcomic.com
David
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Back among the land of the living, and back in the comics-makin’ saddle. Thank you all for being patient. Bronchitis is nothing to sneeze at! (groan) . Here’s a dragon out of the ol’ sketchbook!
A sketch of a very warrior-like Bill…
Have added in the Dark Queen and Frank… nowthen, for some of the background elements… I’m thinking this may make for a cool desktop wallpaper or something…
