Monday, October 5, 2015

Day 642: yourself


04.10.15: and there you have it... One final ripoff. This time there is no if or buts about it! A direct swipe of the grandmaster Norman Rockwell. If you are an artist and you don't know who his is, stop calling yourself an artist!

     I can't actually believe I made it. Gonna try to not get to carried away here, but it is kind of a big deal for me. A lot has changed over the last 642 days, we've gone on a few vacations, a few family visits at the house, house-extension been completed, new job started, one wedding attended, my daughter (the Boss) starting schoolnot to mention my son being born. And somehow I got a drawing/sketch done everyday (my wife will gladly tell you have she was in the birthing ward having contractions and I was over in the corner drawing...slight exaggeration of the truth but not only slight...)

     And was it worth it? Well, when I started, I was not drawing at all and I hardly had any creative ideas. Since starting I have joined a local "support group" of cartoonists, have had two four-page stories published, another in the pipeline and one I've lettered at the printers as we speak. If you flip through the book (or the blog) you'll find several new characters for my comic, Jon Pay, and I've actually finished one story-outline and started the collaboration of another script. Some sleepless nights, but considering we've had a baby in the house, that was gonna happen anyway. So yes, it was worth it.

     I just want to finish off by saying thank you to everybody who've support, encouraged and followed me. There were night I just wanted to throw the book in the bin and go to bed. Without you guys I probably would have. So thank you. 

     A final small fact that I just like to share. The day I started I actually didn't have any pencils to draw with, so I searched  my late father-in-laws study (which has now actually been converted to my studio) and found a few old pencils. One of them specifically caught my eye. It was one he had used (evident by bite-marks) but a long time ago caused the lead had actually hardened. I have since gone through I don't know how many pencils, but this one never seemed to get to small to use.
Most of my rough sketches have been drawn with this pencil, including the last one. It just became part of it and it made it a little special for me.

    A last big thank you to my wife (who has featured several times through out the book.) She didn't always understand, and despite not always wanting to, never stopped supporting me. Kind of funny that I finished on our seven years anniversary?!? Thank you so much and happy anniversary.
     
     So for the last time; what were your top five?!? Or your favourite? I know there's a few to choose from (642 to be exact...) but one or two hopefully sticks in your mind. I would love to hear from you. 

     Anyway, this project is down thank you for taking the time to look at my sketches (and if you're still reading, for still reading...). Hopefully you check out my other blog (which won't be daily) or the Jon Pay Facebook page, both which will show what I'll be working on next. 

     For the last time, thank you and good night. 

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Day 641: Your suggestions

     This one is a little different, so just go with it. I suggest you view the 3 minute video first and I will explain there after. You agree? Good. Lets go to video...


     For those of you who did not check in yesterday, I asked for suggestions for what to draw today as I was a day short. (NOT my fault!! I triple check! No missed pages...) As a result I had several suggestion (one here in the blog and a few more on FB). Not wanting to leave anyone out, I came up with the this which somehow incorporated all the ideas. And as I did not have a page to actually draw on, I did a time-lapse while sketching on the iPad. A little different but I am quite happy with the result.

     So a special thank you to Dave, Patti, Frank, Angela and Siobhain for your suggestions. I hope you like the result.

     Tomorrow will be the last posting on this blog and I will shed all my tears then. For now, again, I hope you like my little video that reveals ALL my secrets... And hopefully see you back here tomorrow for Day 642!!

     Oh, and here's the day 641: your suggestions!



(All characters © and ™C. A. Aabø 2015)

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Day 640: a tuba


02.10.15: another perfect Gus moment, where Gus is doing what he does best, being Gus!

     And if you are reading this on posting day, then now it is up to you. The book that promised me 642 things to draw, short-changed me. There are only 641 things to draw. So between now and the next 20 hours, I would like you to suggest thing number 641 (I'll be drawing the last page in the book on Sunday evening.). Keep it simple and don't repeat anything already drawn. I will either randomly pick a suggestion or choose the one that inspires me. Thank you.

     And if you want see more Jon Pay and Gus MacDugal drawings, comic book pages, pin-ups and news from Cobb City, check out and like www.facebook.com/JonPayPI

(All characters © and ™ C. A. Aabø 2015)

     

Friday, October 2, 2015

Day 639: a sweater


01.10.15: ... He'll grow into it... Eventually ...

     ...ehm...there are only "things" left in the book... You ready with your suggestion for day 341? Don't want to hear it till day 340 is posted, but are you ready?

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Day 638: a muffin tin


30.09.15: not my smartest idea but, again, it made me smile. And who knew there was a Drury Lane in Cobb City...?

     And if you want see more Jon Pay drawings, comic book pages, pin-ups and news from Cobb City, check out and like www.facebook.com/JonPayPI

(All characters © and ™ C. A. Aabø 2015)