Sometimes it seems like the more you learn about how to make comics, the longer it takes.
While working on Satin and Tat, I’ve changed my habits a bit, placing much more emphasis on preparation. Now, before I even put the final strokes to paper (or screen, since it’s mainly digital work), I’m working on character development, research, study sketches and thumbnailing. I can see for myself the positive effects this all has on the final artwork, but if I used to moan that comic drawing is a full time occupation, well now it really is.
I’m lucky in that I find the details of Satin and Tat‘s era endlessly fascinating; well, I suppose I would, given that the Eighties were my teen years. It’s actually a lot of fun to find reference photos of goth hairstyles and makeup, more mainstream fashions, and the bands of the time, not least because I can now see it all in some kind of context rather than it just being the norm as it was when I was 15 and 16.
Here are some of the study sketches I’ve been working from. Click any picture to see it at a larger size.
Skinheads and eighties haircuts
Character design attempting to show extroversion. Also – rah rah skirt!
Floppy hats, a crusty style of punk, the more dandified Steve Strange look, and t-shirts split down the sides.
Mosh pits at anarchopunk gigs.
Live Aid – attempts to pin down Bob Geldof and David Bowie’s distinctive looks – plus a backing singer.
Some of these are band members and some of them are people street fighting and it’s quite interesting how interchangeable they are.
