Monday, December 11, 2017

The Jack Kirby Centennial Tribute Book

The Jack Kirby Centennial Tribute Book is finished and available to download.



Get the Interactive PDF here, where you can link directly to the artists and writers, information about characters Kirby created and more.(301 MB file size)




Remember... Just Create!

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Happy Birthday Steve Ditko

November 2nd is Steve Ditko's 90th Birthday and Nicholas Caputo celebrates it with a wonderful look at his cover art through the decades.

Check out his blog here.

Keep up to date with Ditko's current work at Steve Ditko's Comics Weblog.

The Creeper created by Steve Ditko






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If you are interested in more by Steve Ditko, then I recommend these books. When you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.



Monday, September 18, 2017

My PSA for Arts in Education


I created the storyboard art for this commercial.



Keep reading and +1 this blog. Share with your friends. Please comment.
Remember… Just Create!
Copyright 2017 H. Simpson

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.
When you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.


Sunday, September 17, 2017

What Are Comics Better at Than Movies?

What Do Comics and Graphic Novels Do that Live Action Movies and TV Cannot?

Art copyright 2017 H. Simpson

Combine visuals and texts.

Use sound effects as part of the visual narrative.

Use action and speed lines.

Depict action and dialogue simultaneously that are impossible to do in film.

Can read the character’s thoughts.

Use panels to play with the sense of time and space.

Metamorphosis of objects into panels.

Does not have to appeal to a wide demographic.

Time is for represented by space - the panel’s distance from each other.

A page can be designed.

Can use juxtaposition to imply or infer to the reader.

Can infer a comparison between panels, even if they are not next each other.

One page can be a series of panels that make one larger meta-panel.

Reader can stop, think and compare panels and pages.

Rita can flip back and forth between pages.

Narrative captions to explain things, clarify emotions, actions and motivations.

Comic stories can be very complex and nonlinear, yet still be understandable. Because the reader can absorb it at their own pace and reread it.

Pacing is controlled by the amount of dialogue, text, panel size and amount of detail in panel.
  • Minimal amount of dialogue in action scenes.
  • More dialogue to slow down for thoughtful moments.
Create rhythms with amount and size of panels.

Each panel is a frozen moment to sell that part of the story.

Be representational, impressionistic and abstract at the same time.


Are there any that I missed? Please include them in the comments below.

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previous - How Much Money Can I Make Creating Comic Books?

Follow and subscribe to me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Please support me making video tutorials on Patreon 

Remember… Just Create!

Copyright 2017 H. Simpson


If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.When you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Web Comics You Should be Reading

Check out my web comics:

Romantical Tales




My satirical look at old Romance Comics from the 1940s and 50s. Each chapter combined with new art and text. Hey, you might even pick up some dating tips.

How do these stories hold up in the 21st century? Let's see what our two readers, "The Silo Girls" think.

You may even get some love advice.

It would really help me if you would tell me what you think about it and subscribe. Please help me to get 600 subscribers and please the rate the comic.

You may check them out on the platform of your choice Webtoon or Tapas.

http://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/romantical-tales/list?title_no=40991

http://tinyurl.com/jlrho7o

Zone 26


Zone 26 is where anything can happen and usually does! Use your good eye while you are here, as things are not what they appear to be at first glance. Zone 26 is a black and white world.

What is Zone 26? 

"It's like Cartoon Jazz," says Jon (Superman) Bogdanove. Please help me to reach my goal of getting 250,000 views. Please share and comment. I like to know what you think.
Repeated views count, so come back often.

Please help me to get 600 subscribers and please the rate the comic.

You may check them out on the platform of your choice Webtoon or Tapas

https://tapas.io/series/375

http://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/zone-26/list?title_no=40980

Welcome to Tangent City


Check out my webcomic Tangent City - Don't Go There! The place no serious artist wants to go. The number one killer of depth in art is tangents. A look at how to take the detours. Please share and comment. I like to know what you think.

Check it out on Tapas
https://tapas.io/series/433

Keep reading and +1 this blog. Share with your friends. Please comment.

Remember… Just Create!

Copyright 2017 H. Simpson

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.When you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

Friday, September 15, 2017

How Much Money Can I Make Creating Comic Books?

What Are The Page Rates for Comic Books and Graphic Novels?




In the Golden Age of comic books, artists were often paid staff working in the office. That proved expensive for the employer, and they switched to using freelancers.

This started the process of creators being underpaid and starting at $1 per page. Eventually, it got to around $30 a page in the 40s and stagnated there for decades until the 70s. It didn't keep up with the rate of inflation.

1978

In 1978, some top creators formed a guild and stated what rates they should be paid. The group was headed by Neal Adams with Jim Shooter, Frank Miller, Cary Bates, Howard Chaykin, Chris Claremont, Steve Ditko, Michael Golden, Archie Goodwin, Paul Levitz, Bob McLeod, Carl Potts, Marshall Rogers, Walt Simonson, Jim Starlin, Len Wein, and Marv Wolfman.



You can read more about that on the Comics Alliance site

Adjusted for inflation, those rates today would be about:
Artists: $1080
Writers: $360
Letterers: $144
Colorists: $252

David Harper and Brian Churilla did a survey in 2015 to find out what comic book artists really make on the site Sktchd.

and they did another survey to determine if gender plays a role in how much an artist earns.

You can read the 1st survey here and the gender survey here.

Both are fascinating reading.

Talent isn't equal and treated differently. I have listed minimum rates below (which I'll explain later); however, you should always negotiate the best deal for yourself. Everything below is a guide to help you decide what you are worth. And guess what? A publisher may decide you are worth more. When talent signs a contract with a corporate company after they have worked a certain number of years, they are offered benefits.

Yes, this is intended as a reference and guide so that talent is not so easily taken advantage of when it comes to payment. I continuously meet new talent who want to know the answers to this question. The second most asked question is, "What are the royalty rates?"

I’ve worked for many small and corporate companies over the years. Please see some, but not all, of the companies I’ve worked for on my Amazon Author’s Page. I have received these rates and know others who also have.

If you feel the opportunity to draw for $5 a page is something you want to do, then go for it. At least be aware of what you should be getting. In my freelance life (which includes more than comics), I have accepted weird payments. I received clothing from a fashion designer instead of monetary compensation. So compensation is really between the client and the talent.

I'm only addressing working for pay from a company or individual, not self-publishing, webcomics, selling original art, commissions, or any other alternatives to making money creating comics. There are too many variables involved that make it hard to predict what someone can earn consistently. Create what you love to do, whether you are paid or not, and you will be happy. You're doing it because you want to do it, not only because you're paid.

Editors aren’t listed because they usually are not freelancers and work on staff, 9 to 5 for a company.

SUGGESTED MINIMUM PAGE RATES

The minimum page rates listed below are based on the minimum hourly wage. If you are working for an individual or a small company, then these are the absolute minimum rates you should accept, in my opinion. Yes, this is not a standard or the law, just my own opinion.

I have listed typical starting rates. Since I can't record every company's starting rate, there is going to be variation. Also, an editor can decide to start someone above the starting rate (when possible) if they like the talent.

For example, I feel the lowest page rate for pencil art today should be $58 a page. How did I arrive at that? The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. An artist should take 8 hours to draw one page. 8 x $7.25 works out to $58 for a page. This calculation is a baseline formula that everyone can follow as a guide for setting their rate. A minimum wage is not a living wage. A minimum wage would barely pay rent and utilities in some states, if at all. Well, forget about food, hence the term "starving artist." As long as we have a place to draw, we can do without food. (just joking)

A good letterer can do one 22 to 24-page comic in 8 hours, so the per-page rates should be adjusted accordingly based on $7.25 an hour.

Minimum page rates are useful as a guide to use when the client is an individual or a small company.

WHAT IS MY TIME WORTH?

What your time is worth is not specific to comics. It’s for any art you do. If your time is worth $75 an hour, then instead of cutting your own grass, hire someone for $20 an hour to do that. Unless, of course, cutting grass relaxes you. The point is to decide how to better spend your time.

You must pay taxes according to the laws of your country, state, city, and county.

Currency exchange rates vary all the time, so there is no clear answer to how much you will pay in taxes.

One thing you can do that applies to anyone in any country is to figure out what your time is worth,

Add up all of your expenses:
Rent or Mortgage
Utilities
Phone
Internet
Food
 • Subscriptions (software, magazines, etc)
Insurance (car, medical, dental, rental, home, life, whatever you have)
and whatever applies to you

Let’s say that equals $2755 a month. A month is 22 days because, after all, who wants to work on the weekends?

$2755 divided by 22 days = $125 a day (now you have a day rate)

$125 divided by 8 hours = $15.60 (now you have an hourly rate)

So you really should not accept a job that doesn’t cover your living expenses.

But we’re not done yet. Multiply $15.60 x 3 = $46.80 an hour. Why 3? For your education, talent, experience and because life happens! Besides, who just wants to live to ONLY pay bills?

So, in this example, your time is worth between $15.60 and $46.80 an hour or between $125 and $374 a day.

So, if you accept a rate below your minimum, then you are not going to make a living because bills will be unpaid.

Knowing the worth of your time gives you negotiation room because you can ask for a high rate, and you know what your bottom line is as you get negotiated down.

CAN I MAKE A LIVING DOING COMICS?

That’s the question you need to ask before you can think about the page rate. Can I make a living doing print comics? If you can't produce comic book pages at the speed listed below, you are not going to be able to make a living at this.

The schedule below is the minimum production output you need to do.
Writer - 4 books a month
Penciler - 1 page in 8 hours
Inker - 2 pages in 8 hours
Colorist - 2 to 5 pages a day, average
Letterer - 1 to 2 days to do a full comic book

Page rates are based on the expected time to complete a page.

Here are the various scenarios talent can find themselves positioned in the comic book industry and the page rates. That is, corporate, small press, and independent publishers.

Here are the average starting rates per page:
Minimum rates per page you should ask for:
writing - $13
pencils - $58
inks - $29
colors - $11 to $29
letters - $3

Independent company starting rates per page (these do go higher):
writing - $35
pencils - $125
inks - $90
colors - $50
letters - $20

Corporate company starting rates per page (these do go higher):
writing - $75 to $100
pencils - $155 to $200
inks - $100 to $175
colors - $75 to $100
letters - $35 to 50

Everyone deserves to make at least minimum wage for their services; writer, artist, colorist, letterer, and any other job in America. Not only deserves it, but it's also the law, regardless of skill level.





Here's an article from Money.com on salaries and income titled How Much You Can Earn in the Comic Book Industry — From Artist to CEO

Read next - What Are Comics Better at Than Movies?
Previous - Jeff Koons and Copying

Follow and subscribe to me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share it with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Please support me in making video tutorials on Patreon

Remember… Just Create!
Copyright 2017 H. Simpson

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.
When you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action, and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.


Wednesday, August 30, 2017

More Jack Kirby Creations to Draw

The Jack Kirby Tribute book is very close to getting 100 artists to draw 100 Kirby creations. More info here.

I’m thinking the last few characters are not grabbing anyone. So I’m jumped back into the Kirby Cosmic Creation pool and pulled out these gems.

There are only nine slots left for artists and you have your choice of these characters to draw for the tribute book.

Ajax


Angry Charlie


Balder


Bombast


Captain 3-D


Captain Glory


Captain Victory


Crystal


Destroyer Duck


Director Chusang


Fourth Sleeper


Glorious Godfrey


Goom


Kalibak


Mangog


Mantis


Metron





Overlord


Recorder


Sersi


Silver Star


Vykin the Black


The Wizard


The Wrecker

Remember.... Just Create!


What Comics Should I Read?

How to Start Reading Comic Books


Often, I'm asked for suggestions on what comics to read from people who want to get started in this hobby/fandom/obsession.

I've given them my list of must reads. I just found a site dedicated to helping newbies in a much more through way.

It's called

How to Love Comics




I highly suggest this to people just starting out and you should pass this along to other friends you know.

Remember... Just Create!

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

100 Artists Drawing 100 Jack Kirby Creations

Jack Kirby Centennial


Please help me spread the word about tribute book to Jack Kirby to celebrate his centennial. 100 artists drawing 100 Kirby creations.

You can find more info at this link http://tinyurl.com/100artistskirby 

Now if none of these float your boat, then Kirby has created thousands of characters beyond the 100 I chose. You can replace these last few with any that are not already  taken.

Or combine characters. For instance, you want to draw the Fantastic Four (which is already taken) then choose one of their enemies fighting the team or one of the members.

Remember.... Just Create!

Monday, August 21, 2017

Jeff Koons and Copying

How Jeff Koons, 8 Puppies and a Lawsuit Changed Artists’ Right to Copy

Installation view of Jeff Koons, String of Puppies, 1988, at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Photo by Amaury Laporte, via Flickr.
In 1988, Jeff Koons unveiled his “Banality” series. The exhibitions consisted of a series of porcelain and wooden sculptures based on photographs and other archetypal objects.

Boy was he sued!

For the art world, the cases produced by the “Banality” shows resulted in judgments that have helped to define when artists can and cannot use the work of others for their own pieces, making a lasting impact on copyright law.

The “Banality” shows spurred five lawsuits, some decades after the original exhibit. One is pending today, almost 30 years after the show, while another settled out of court. Koons lost the remaining three, with courts finding him liable for copyright infringement and rejecting his fair use defense: that he was parodying the source material.

Read this article for more information.

read next - How Much Money Can I Make Creating Comic Books?
previous - How to Rock That Body

Follow and subscribe to me. If you have found this helpful, please let me know and share with other creators. Are the explanations clear and complete? Feel free to ask me questions.

Please support me making video tutorials on Patreon

Remember… Just Create!

If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, then I recommend these books.

You can support this blog when you purchase a book by clicking the link below, I get a piece of the action and helps me to continue doing this blog. Support an artist today.

copyright 2017 H. Simpson

Monday, July 17, 2017

Help to make Google honor Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby Fan Campaign To Get Google to Honor the Comicbook Legend 


Jack "King" Kirby

E-mail Google Now! And often!

Bucky and Captain America


This year is the centennial of legendary comic book creator Jack Kirby. In honor of this special occasion, a fan campaign is calling for Google to honor the man behind many of today’s most popular comic book characters with his very own Google Doodle on his birthday: August 28, 2017.

See more info here.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

The Man With No Name

A digital art piece I created using ArtRage software and Wacom hardware.

art copyright © 2017 H. Simpson

Remember... Just Create!



Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Inviting 100 Artists to Draw 100 Kirby Characters to Celebrate 100th Anniversary

In this 100th year celebration of Jack Kirby, how about we get a hundred artists to draw 100 characters created by The King; whom we all draw inspiration from in our comicbook art. One hundred characters or teams have been carefully selected to represent all periods from The King’s career. Digital files will be submitted at the proportional size of 6.625“ x 10.25“ and will be 300 dpi. One character per artist. We then put it together as a plain vanilla .CBR and an interactive PDF with everyone getting the credit they deserve The layout of the issue will be roughly: 1. Cover 2. A short text piece about Kirby 3. Bio about Kirby. 4. The pin-ups or sequential pages created by the 100 artists. However, you want to pay tribute to him based on the character selected. 5. Credit pages with each artist providing name or username, country, favorite Kirby issue, your web-site link. 6. Back cover This will not be printed or sold. It is strictly for download by the participating artists and whoever has the link. Due date to submit completed art is May 31st. Art can be in color or black & white. Do what you are best at; drawing or painting. Completed book and links to be provided on July 30th.

Update:

Okay, lets celebrate!

Start by putting in your bid for the character you want to draw in the comments below. Indicate your request by name. I've added some alternative choices to the list that you can find here.

*Note: Artists should use Kirby's designs of the characters, not their own redesigns or that of any artists who drew the characters after Kirby. The original post will be updated as slots are filled by artists.

Final files size of 6.625“ x 10.25“ and will be 300 dpi (25 MB max file size) can be uploaded to Dropbox.
A Absorbing Man - Luis Vives Ajax - Leonardo Colapietro Annihilus - NewYorkPicasso
Angry Charlie - Kurt Stoskopf Ant-Man - Santosh Tiwari B Big Barda - Jeloschi Black Bolt - BeeCo Black Panther (comics) - ** Black Racer (DC Comics) - Crimson Spider Boy Commandos (entire team) - Marty Nozz Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (original team) Bucky Barnes - Luis Germosen Jr C Captain America - bedtime143 Celestials (any one or all) - Anthony Pugh Challengers of the Unknown (entire team) - D Darkseid - ** Deep Six (DC Comics, entire team) Devil Dinosaur - ** Doctor Doom - ** Dragon Man - Ekotek E Ego the Living Planet - Dan 3000 Enchantress (Marvel Comics) - Wender1 Eternals (any one or entire team) - Exoravant Etrigan the Demon - Dann Executioner (comics) - Hangman F Fantastic Four (entire original team) - Veritas71 Female Furies (entire team) - Eran Aviani Fighting American - Bong Kimyan Fin Fang Foom - Wilson Ramos, Jr. Fly (Archie Comics) - Shaw Forager (comics) - ramon714 Forever People (any one or entire team)) - Earl Crump II (Divine Art Online) Frightful Four (entire original team) - Stoat Nick Fury (S.H.I.E.L.D agent) - Lord Dubu G Galactus - Fatmancomics Giant-Man (Hank Pym) - Solanki Granny Goodness - D.C. Groot - Einar Guardian (DC Comics) - Tom (Robin) Lyle H Hela - ** Hercules (Marvel Comics) - Marcus  Kelligrew High Evolutionary - Christopher Chamberlain Hulk - Scmarooney I Infinity-Man - Darrell Goza Inhumans (entire original team) - Richard Dominguez Iron Man - Ratcrack J Gabe Jones Juggernaut - CrazyMobius K Kamandi - Howard Simpson Kang the Conqueror - Golgotha Klarion the Witch Boy - reedrothchild29 Klaw (Marvel Comics) - Joe Martino Krang (Marvel Comics) - WILLETT L Lockjaw - John Paterson Lightray - Loki - JC Immortal M Machine Man - David McClain Mad Thinker - Pete Tha Creep Magneto - MetaAbe Manhunter - Tom Kelly Medusa - **
Metron - Southpaw Mister Miracle - Sdowner M.O.D.O.K. - Pencilero Mole Man - Basilisk N New Gods (any one or entire team) - Ian Dorian Newsboy Legion (entire team) - Michael Kasinger O Odin (comics) - Daniele Garbugli OMAC (Buddy Blank) - Gregory Giordano (Flameape) Orion - Mike James P Parademon - LucaBulgheroni Psycho-Man - Crazyjedichicken
Puppet Master - Q Quasimodo (comics) - James Reddington Quicksilver (comics) - Josh Figueroa

R Radioactive Man (comics) - Juan Manuel Almirón (J.M.A.) Red Skull - Hadesillustration Ronan the Accuser - VagabondX S Sandman (DC Comics) - Jon (Superman) Bogdanove Scarlet Witch - Seithe Sentinel - ChrisH Sharon Carter (Agent 13) - ** Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos (entire team) - letsgowijaya Sif (comics) - Hawkswift
Silver Star - Michael Gerlich Silver Surfer - Slyaguilar Sky Masters (entire team) Super-Skrull - Teratophile T Thing - Battlewraith Thor (Marvel Comics) - Almayer
Tigra (DC Comics) - Fallenangel Two-Gun Kid - ** U Uatu - RonB V Vision (Timely Comics) - Brian Romero W Adam Warlock - Shane Campos Warriors Three (entire team) - Paul (X-Men) Smith Wasp - Always Drawing Wonder Man - Joseph Dredd X X-Men (entire original team) - ** Z Arnim Zola - 1peace Baron Zemo - Rick Lucey

**claimed

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