It's sometime after 2 AM. I just found myself sitting at the board staring at a neatly ruled piece of bristol with no idea what to do next. I don't remember how to draw. Anyone have any suggestions?

Copy some Rob Liefeld comics. He's great!

I was gonna ask you...

Carefully peel off any coating the board may have, shred the remainder, stuff it in a pipe, and smoke it. Repeat any time you need inspiration. Pretty soon, you'll get to a point where you'll put ANYTHING down, rather than go through that again.

Quack, Don


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GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW FOR LIBRARIES
P.O. Box 55148
Phoenix, AZ 85078

Attach that pen tip to your left index finger and move it up and down in a waving like motion. It might come back to you, I hope.

TP'99

Forgetting how to draw is not so dangerous as forgetting why to draw. Or some shit...

I've got this really big page that I started ages ago. The entire background is a masochistic cross-hatched pattern. When I couldn't think of anything else to do I'd add to the pattern until I thought of something usefull to do.

Eventually, I finished the pattern and it looked like shit. So I tossed it out. However, it at least kept me moving until something else came along. It's kind of like that Asimov story about writing one word a day. If you start with one word it will eventually lead to something.

BUT...if it's after two am and you aren't nocturnal. Go to bed dummy, you're tired. [img]http://207.69.158.95/ubb/smile.gif[/img]



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Justin Savage
President/Editor/Web-bozo
Sabre's Edge
www.sabresedge.com


[This message has been edited by savage (edited 06-13-99).]

Actualy, I sometimes find my best comic strips where drawn at 2am when I couldnt sleep. But I'm a real chronic insomniac (No, realy, this *is* a real medical disorder), so your milage may vary.

Of course, those times when you forget to draw are similar to those times when you forget how to drive. The best advice is "Dont do it while at 50mph"...


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--
John "No, I'm not Swedish" Barberio
I'm very bad at drawing, protect yourself, do not read my online comic at http://www.cus.umist.ac.uk/~barberio/zoion/

Steve, my good man...you're the last person in the world who could forget how to draw!
You fine eye for keen detail is amazing.
What you probably consider a "slump", others would more than likely consider a quantum leap!
Hey, thanks again for some great conversation at the Pittsburgh Comicon.
I had a wonderful time chatting it up with you!
And again...thank you for your contribution
to Timespell #3!
Take care, and looking forward to MELT!
By the way...GREAT promo ad for it in the
new Previews!


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http://www.timespell.com

Actually, I discovered this new technique. Just take an eraser and erase at that blank sheet of bristol. There's actually a picture under there. Well, after a couple of tabs of acid.

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TAK

For the occasions when I lack the drive or the ability to just sit down and draw my panels out, regardless if I can see what I want in my head, I quickly run to the kitchen, find a meat hammer and proceed to beat myself over the head for about 5 minutes.

If that doesn't work I always go for the acid.

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Sean "the bum" Closson
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Artist/Writer/Creator
The Proletariat Press-comics for the thriving masses on the ass-end of the social ladder.

Or you could also sniff your india ink. If none of this works, just blot some ink on the board, do a quick Rorschach test, and just add dialogue boxes and word balloons to it, describing the "scene" for everyone else....

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The newest (if not the smallest) comics company on the market - Comix Features! email me at comix@radiks.net for more info....

I know that by now you have probably remembered how to draw, but answering this question just sounded like way too much fun. Unfortunately, I now realize I don't know what to say... um- call a doctor I guess. Sorry. (Man do I feel like an idiot...)

Good luck,
Comicazi

i must say i'm a little concerned about the
acid references.

any one knows a fat ass blunt will get those
creative juices flowin'.

seriously, do like i do. draw a scene from any
t.v. show, any genre and replace the characters with people you know or comic
characters. nothing too fancy, you know. just
a little something to get that art muscle flexin'. (example: MAD ABOUT SCOTT&JEAN)
JUST A THOUGHT.

look at some of your own comics, you doofus! Geez, you eisner award winners! (actually, I can't remember if you won, but was really gald you were nominated).

Seriously, if it were me, I would only have two choices...go to bed or drink many more dr. peppers.

Draw something just for fun on shitty paper--a big piece of bristol is too intimidating.

Sacrifice a cherished loved one or possession to the ghost of Winsor McCay.

What? That's not what normal people do? Geez, NOW you tell me...

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John Roberson
Bottomless Studio
BottomlessStudio@email.msn.com http://members.delphi.com/johnroberson/index.html
Write for details of Bottomless Studio and its nasty little offspring PLASTIC, featuring VITRIOL(now in its last four chapters, thank God!)by John Linton Roberson and RIBBED FOR HER PLEASURE by Kelly Pillsbury!