Spell Check 10

“I don’t wanna do this any more.”

More and more that phrase runs through my mind. Not in regard to making art and comics, but in regards to all the things that stand in the way of creating.

In the past year I’ve been taking steps to increase my productivity in making art happen. It’s been a two steps forward, one step back situation though. I can get some good momentum going with something like being able to update the Voodoo Walrus comic every week, but it comes at the cost of working on ConQuest, or creating fun little bonus stuff for the VW and GrymmArts Patreons.

Or it’s a case of having to give up on cooking a nicer dinner than boxed alfredo noodles or frozen chicken nuggies. Letting the dirth dishes sit longer than I’d like. Letting the grass get a little more infested with wild pokemon. That kind of thing.

The only compromise I’ve come up with so far is trying to tone down the detail in my comic pages. I could probably save countless hours by just abandoning the level of shading I do during the color process. That’s the main reason why I’ve been playing more with line weights and shadows during my ink phases here and on Voodoo Walrus. I figure if I can transition enough into the type of shading I might be able to give up on the color side shading partially or figure out a quicker way to do it.

For now I just hope it’s not another year before I get back around to ConQuest again. Notes for page 12 are currently down and thumbnailing has been started. Hell, by current industry standards that’s half a single comic issue right? I can do that again. What’s 12 pages? Nothing at all. VW is currently standing at well over 500 pages and that’s not counting fillers, extra strips, etc.

Just gotta keep going and clawing out time for art whenever and wherever I can.

Spell Check 9

Grymm has entered SLUMP MODE. Projects have been completed. Things are in motion. Now is the time for two or three days of low to no art creation. SLUMP MODE ENGAGED.

Slump Mode is important though. Even though I’m not actively working on art during a slump, I am using the time to do promoting and gallery updating, and social media garbage, and making updates here on the site. All those things that the brain puts on the back burner because The Art is the priority.

That said, what Art is now done? The big thing is a new ConQuest page has dropped. Page seven is now live and we’re starting to focus on Monti and the Dromers.

I’ve also just posted the this month’s Patreon monster stickers to the Monsteagerie section. The winning theme ended up be classic and nostalgic movie monsters. I think I did a pretty good job with it.

Speaking of Patreon and monster stickers, the poll to decide on April’s sticker theme is now up and available to all levels of Patreon supporters. So even if you’re not into getting stickers in the mail, you can still have some input on what you’d like to see me tackle next. Right now “Creepin’ Crytpids” is in the lead.

I think that’s about it for now. The Beagle is currently yelling at me because it’s raining outside and that’s making it a bit difficult to focus. So I’m going to mosey along and do some more Art Wizard Slumping. Like a boss.

Spell Check 8

I’m listening to 90’s grunge, alt-pop, and ultra niche space wizard rock. The beagle is snoring on his bed next to the art table. There’s a partially colored ConQuest page in the works. Not a terrible way to spend an evening.

Wish I had more to report art wise, but page 7 of ConQuest has consumed my art time the past couple of weeks and now I’m just determined to finish it as quickly as I can. If you want to check out the roughs and inks for this page, both are available on my Patreon for $1 and higher patrons.

I’m hoping that these colors will be done in the next couple of days. Then I can make proper headway on the next batch of Patreon exclusive monster stickers. This time the theme has been voted on my patrons directly and the winner is “Old School Nostaligic Monsters from Film and Television. I’ve already got some great ideas jotted down on the sketch app in my phone, I just need to properly realize them. Gonna have fun with this theme.

Note to Future Grymm: You want to talk about the creeping dread that is cartoon cereal mascots at some point. It deserves its own post.

Spell Check 6

Due to circumstances beyond my control, Voodoo Walrus is on hiatus for a while. I hate and love this fact in equal measure. I hate the circumstances that have led to this happening. I hate having to once more stall a story that has been stalled countless times already. I hate shelving a setting and cast that I love creating. I simply despise not being able to finish things at the pace I want them finished.

However, I do love that it gives me the chance to focus completely on ConQuest and other works for a bit. Up until now I was bopping back and forth. Finish art for a Voodoo Walrus page, rough out a ConQuest page, work on stickers or commissions, finish a ConQuest page, rough out the next Walrus. The goal was to push out one VW and one CQ page every month and I was getting pretty close to that. It was tiring though.

So, executive decision made. Grymm focuses on Art Wizarding until VW making circumstances are right again.

That said, what have I been up to recently? I figured doing a blog entry would be a good one stop shop for that info.

Most of the past month has been spent focused on the ValenTerror sticker design set and working on ConQuest page six. The ValenTerror stickers can actually be seen in all their glory in the Monsternagerie right now! Page six of CQ will hopefully be done and up on the Patreon within a few days and uploaded here shortly thereafter.

Love is in the air. Like a gamma ray burst.

In fact, most of what’s been done recently can be found on my Patreon for all patrons regardless of tier level:

Finished colors for ConQuest Page Six

-DEEP LORE: The War Witch and Brevyas’ Tears

-PROGRESS VIDEO: Inking CQ and rambling about the Mandela Effect

-CQ CONCEPTS: Drome Tammet Sigil Graphic

-POLL: Next monster sticker pack theme

Wow, when I type it out it I actually feel like I’ve been productive! Neat!