Monday's Issue, and Back to School

Issue twenty-two is out!  I'm really proud of this one.  I wanted to set a particular mood for this one, being Kevlar's second appearance, and I think that I succeeded beautifully :P

So far I've proven that I can make three comics a week with minimal issues. However, I haven't done much (any) art outside of ABHR.  Most importantly, I haven't done anything for my portfolio for The Center for Cartoon studies.  I've given myself a personal deadline of December first to submit everything needing for my admission, and I still have a long way to go.  Let's take a look at the list of things I'm still missing:

Three page essay

Fifteen page portfolio 

Two page comic (with CCS criteria)

In other words, I have yet to finish all the most important parts of the application.  I'm not worried yet, though, because I still have lots of time.  If I get started this week, I'll make my deadline no problem.  

Later Days!

Much More Like It!

It's two a.m. on Friday morning, and the comic is up!  ON TIME!  Am I excited?  Yes. Considering what a hard time I had at work today, I'm amazed that I got it done this early. It was so busy and hectic that, by the end, I was so tired that I forgot what I was saying as I spoke! Boys and girls, sales is hard!  You have to have the right mentality for it, and I don't :P

I didn't do much in a way of backgrounds for issue twenty-one, I admit. I have, however, been very interested in facial expressions lately. I've been trying to strike a balance between subtlety and exaggeration. It's a fun challenge, because it really gets me thinking about the symmetry between the text and a drawings.  A lot can be left unsaid with the right facial expression.  

So this weekend should be pretty relaxing.  I have nothing planned for the next comic, but I'm sure something will come to this insane head of mine.  Until then, enjoy the new issue, and COMMENT!

Later Days!

An Update and a Rant

The pencils for issue twenty-one are finished, and the inking will be done by one a.m. the latest on Friday morning.  I'm working a closing shift tomorrow (again!), and my roommate is having family spend the night, so it will be hard to find a private space to draw.

It's frustrating because I work my best at night between seven p.m. and midnight, but my job is sapping away that time.  I work more hours now at part time than I ever did as a full timer, and I specifically went back to part time because I wanted to spend more time with the comic.  

I don't hate my job, but it's just not a priority anymore.  My boss told me his passions are his family and his job.  While I respect that, I don't agree with it.  I'm in a place right now where my art has to come first.  I need to create!  I need to express myself to the world!  Also, I want my art to become my job someday.  I don't want to be tied down to anything.  Not a family, not a job, not anything.  It's funny, actually... while most people my age are married and ready to start having kids (or have already started), I relish in being single.  I don't always want to be alone, but my life is already so complicated with everything that's happened to me this year, that I don't want to add any more to my plate.  

(whew) that was pretty long-winded, I must say.  Anyhoo, the comic will be ready for Friday, and I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend, full of pizza and PS3 :P

Later Days!

Issue 20 Is Here!

Issue twenty is finally out, though much later than promised (sorry!).  For some reason I had a hard time with this one.  It took a really long time to ink, but I'm happy with the overall piece, especially the last panel.  Kevin has sort of a Charlie Brown quality to his expression, does he not?  

Anyway, please enjoy the new issue.  As usual, any comments or suggestions can be sent to jessedurona@mac.com

Later days!

Slight Delay... Again

So closing shift stinks.  I started issue twenty at eleven O'clock, which means that now, at a quarter to three, I'm still in the inking process.  At my ripe old age of twenty-five, it's very hard to stay up late with any kind of brain function.  In short, the comic will be posted on Wednesday afternoon, hopefully before one p.m.  

I have noticed I've been a bit lenient with myself in relation to my deadlines.  I set up ABHR to prove to myself that I could do three comics a week, but all I've proven lately is that I haven't taken it seriously enough.  My deadline is one a.m. on the morning of the submission day, so a Wednesday comic should be posted by one a.m. that day.  Maybe I'm being lax because I have no real fan base yet, or perhaps it's because I've been so tired lately.  Either way, I'm putting an end to it this week.  Friday's comic will be on time, and it will be awesome!  I will post a Twitter when issue twenty is up and ready for view.

Side note:  I'm not really being hard on myself.  While the comic can sometimes be late, at least I'm still doing three each week.  I'm proud of myself, I swear!

Later days!

A New Blog, and a New Direction

So I decided it was time to find a better blog, considering that the blog on the website is pretty miniscule.  The layout is boring, the font and colors are generic, and worst of all, there's no place to post comments!  Blogger is the perfect place to host "Writer's Blog," that is until I can learn how to build my own official web site.  

So issue #20 is coming up, and, considering that this is a big milestone, it's time to take ABHR in a more solid direction.  Until now, I've been flying by the seat of my pants, writing and drawing whatever cam to mind.  I haven't really cared about the overall direction of the strip until recently.  To quote some great advice I recently received from a friend, I "need and angle to draw people in and keep them coming back for more."  That is the whole point, isn't it?  While I love creating this comic, what really matters is my audience!  If you guys (and gals) aren't happy with what I'm doing, then you're not going to come back and visit anymore!  

(ahem) anyway, my point is that I've got more of a direction in mind for the comic, and I'm very excited about it.  I already have both Wednesday's and Friday's comics planned out!  Now we'll just have to see if I can get them done on time :P

Later days!

P.S.  Freya is back up and better than ever!  Hopefully my phantom computer problems are long gone!