January – comics, comics, so many dwarves.

Buh January where to begin? I spent a lot of it either watching the Hobbit or thumbnailing Seven Cha

December and The Hobbit

As I said to my sister Christmas Day – I was always going to adore The Hobbit, regardless of w

Supanova + Seven Book 2

This weekend was Supanova Brisbane, which I attended. Between the vent above blowing torrential wind

 

January – comics, comics, so many dwarves.

February 24, 2013 in PlaceSticky

Buh January where to begin? I spent a lot of it either watching the Hobbit or thumbnailing Seven Chapter 3 – but below are some of the things that were done.

 Today’s work: Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, king under the mountain. Combination of pencils, copic markers and digital touch ups. Feels so good to achieve something (mostly) traditionally again.A lot of my inspiration comes from dreams. Sometimes it’s a feeling, sometimes it’s a scene or place, sometimes it’s full pieces of narrative and story. This morning’s dream was about a little girl who cut off all her hair to pretend to be a boy, and returned to her family house years later to find it abandoned, jumanji-esque, with the surrounding woods moving in to reclaim it. In the dream the was wearing a hat, but this is the woman who came back to an abandoned house.BWAAAH they are in COLOUR! This is the best way to spend a Friday night! Colours in photoshop.  Edit: I also gave Ori his own mini pine tree branch. It’s not on fire, but only because Majestic Thorin would get jealous.Colours for the little Ori chibi from this week. Photoshop. Putting some last embellishments on my fancy beginnings piece - these silver ink highlights will only be on the display piece.Sometimes trying new things is lame - like my short attempt at A4 inking. But I’ve tried a new pencilling process for Book 3 that really feels like it’s working.  I do my thumbs at four to an A6 page, then instead if redrawing them I’m using a similar process to how I do inks - blue print and refine in pencil. I’m on the first page here (thumb and pacer included for size reference) but it already feels like this is going to be awesome for my speed.Some fast sketch colours over Thomas and Mother. I’m not sure but I may ink this up at a larger scale.

December and The Hobbit

January 13, 2013 in PlaceSticky, StickStuck

As I said to my sister Christmas Day – I was always going to adore The Hobbit, regardless of what it became in Jackson’s hands. The world of Middle Earth effectively kick started my creativity back when I was younger, and this first film recaptured some of that for me. It’s also helping learn to draw beards!

From December’s post round up though, you’d think I was only working on one thing. But I’m not, I swear! Seven book 2 is almost finished effectively, so keep an eye for that too!

 

Supanova + Seven Book 2

November 12, 2012 in Comic, PlaceSticky

This weekend was Supanova Brisbane, which I attended. Between the vent above blowing torrential winds at us and being separated from the rest of the comic team it was a bit of a lacklustre experience, but we still got to meet some great people and spread the Seven story. A special thanks to everyone who put up with me coming round (often multiple times) to bug them over the weekend!

Special mention – I met Tom Taylor’s cosplayer. He’s super adorable!

 

I’ve almost finished the pencils on Seven book 2, and started the inks. Below are a few images from the things I’ve been working on, including a separate project I’m not quiiiiiiite ready to announce.

Until next time <3

Seven + FEC extravaganza

September 28, 2012 in PlaceSticky, Seven

The last month, my friends, the last MONTH!

Firstly, the FEC extravaganza went spectacularly! It was a splendid night and I hope everyone had an amazing time, just as I did. Big shout out to all the crew at FEC, All Star Comics, and the other peeps launching on the night.

Secondly, Seven, the book I was launching, is now available online! You can buy a standard copy from FEC at their facebook page, but for only $15 you can pick up your own ARTIST EDITION copy from me from my store! I’ll have sketches with some splashes of colour within, and a personal thanks.

http://alishajadecomics.bigcartel.com/product/seven-1-artist-edition

So get along and pick it up!

 

It’s been reviewed by the good folks at Nerd Culture as well -

“Alisha Jade’s Seven is an incredibly layered dark fairytale that, at first glance, seems deceptively simple. Her nuanced storytelling and manga-inspired artwork are coupled with an impressive understanding of the nature of fables, metaphor and iconography.This is a book that warrants multiple readings and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of Alisha’s work.

One of the most fascinating elements of Seven lies in Kat, our protagonist who, for reasons explained in the story, cannot speak. While this might limit some artists, Alisha manages to convey Kat’s emotions through body language and facial expressions, giving insight into her character through purely visual means.

Seven invokes the best and most disturbing elements of a classic Grimm’s fairytale while never drawing from one specific fable. Alisha Jade understands the universality of those classic stories, drawing on elements of many to construct her own dark and fascinating tale.”

I want to thank everyone who was involved, and I hope everyone enjoys it!

August Round Up

August 31, 2012 in Illustration, PlaceSticky

Apart from what is already posted, here are some of the things I’ve been working on this August!

 

I’m also launching the first Seven book in Melbourne on the 22nd of August at the FEC Extravaganza! Would love to see you there!

http://www.facebook.com/events/266658426779629/

Finding a digital groove.

August 12, 2012 in Illustration, PlaceSticky

It’s  interesting looking at the work others are doing in the digital field and wishing I had the patience for the kind of work they do. But I don’t – I draw at A5, or more often A6, and I’m not really comfortable at larger scales for illustrations. So I’ll make the best of what I do.

I have the Internet back YAY!

June 22, 2012 in Comic, PlaceSticky

WOW.

 

You never realize how dependent you are on having the internet until it goes away hey?

Here’s a section of what I’ve been working on since I dropped offline – aside from Seven (which will be out in September OH  YEAH) I’ve been writing up a short(ish) story called Levitate. Some of the concept illustrations are below, and on twitter if you’ve been following. It follows Cassi, a girl who can’t touch the ground, and Morgan, a young man who after finishing studies can’t really find his feet either.

Over the past day or so I’ve been talking on twitter about how I feel the Auscomics scene is missing a sense of wonder – especially when it comes to comics for adults (or at least, not specifically for kids). I’m hoping to inject some of that wonder at the every day with Levitate, and will keep updating as it unfolds!

Also, I’ll be at Ozcomicon in Melbourne next weekend! Please drop by the Siberian table and say hi!

Getting back in the Digital Saddle

April 8, 2012 in StickStuck

I just bought myself a new little bamboo, and I’m getting back into the digital colour realm. Those of you who know me know that I am passionately pro-traditional work, but the hard fact is that it’s really difficult to properly reproduce traditional colour work unless you’re using something like paints. And even then I doubt it’s easy.

 

So I’m going to try to get my skills on colour back up to a good level, but rest assured I’ll always be pencilling and inking traditionally. And that won’t be changing.

But here’s one of my first new forays into colour – a portrait inspired by Natsumi Hayashi, who does the amazing photography featuring herself levitating through Japan. Check it out, it’s super cool.

 

Neptune

January 24, 2012 in Illustration

I always did like her style.

 

Trapped

January 17, 2012 in Pinup

 

This image is an experiment I did some time ago – the figure is mounted on the backdrop with foam and stands above, thus the shadowing.