It’s been a bit of a wait, but I’m back with a new update. The final big piece of art for my upcoming events is in the can. This coming week will be focused on preparing everything for printing. After that, It’ll be time to start working on revamping the website. Look for some changes here in a couple of weeks.
After the launch of the new website, work will commence on the next chapter of Astray3. I can’t say exactly when the new chapter will start posting. My current estimate is at the beginning of November. It’s a bit of a wait, however, I want the next chapter’s release to go as smoothly as possible. In the meantime, I’ll start posting page teasers and bonus art here until the official launch.
That’ll be it for now. Be back next week with an update on the new prints.
Here is a quick update on Astray3 and work in general. I’ve recently wrapped up the last piece of art for the chapter four print. ( The above image. ) All that is left is the final arrangement and proofreading of the book. Then it is off to the printer. If everything works out, copies should make it just in time for the September comic events.
With chapter three in the print can, I have one last big project to complete before the renovation of the Astray3 website can begin. Look for the site to start changing about mid-August. This may include a total overhaul to the comic’s old format. It all depends on how much I can transfer to a new theme.
When the website overhaul is complete I’ll start work on Astray3 chapter four. I’m hesitant to announce when the comic will start posting again, but hopefully, it won’t be too far in the future.
That is all for now. I’ll leave you with some extra art goodies.
Astray3 chapter three cover.A new A3 translation guide.
Hello A3 readers,
After a few slow weeks, I’m back with an update on the next comic print. The cover and a new astray-lien translation guide are finished. There is one last piece of art to wrap up then we’ll be off to the printer. The book will premiere first at Arkansas Comic-Con, then immediately followed by Spa-Con. Since my supply of comic copies is currently limited, I’m postponing online sales till after September. That’ll give me a chance to take stock and consider re-orders if necessary.
There is a lot more work to do before production on chapter four begins. Be back with some new art next week!
Cover for the print version of Astray3 chapter 3.Color flat.Finished inks.Pencils
Hello readers,
Work on the next print chapter of Astray3 is about to complete. I should have it ready for the printer by the end of the week. Soon after the book is complete, I’ll start work on revamping the website and creating a webstore. This may take some time. I might have to rebuild the entire comic archive for a new theme. Expect the site to be down for a bit. ( I’m woefully bad at the internets. ) Hopefully, this will only take a few weeks.
My three foot nerd prison for ten hours last Saturday.
A quick post Death Ray Expo update!
Hello readers,
My first live event has now faded into the past tense. So, it’s time for some reflection.
Above, and below, are pictures of my humble booth. I shared a table with my long time art pal Fernando on the left. You can visit his website at http://www.calakka.com/ On the right is, Gustav Carlson of www.touristunknown.com Needless to say, wedged in there between two other artist, my presence was diminutive.
However, I consider the show an overall success. The books were well received and I sold a lot of copies. Also, I was able to meet a lot of my peers from the local art community. ( Although, I really need business cards for the next show. ) Not bad for operating from a cramped three-foot space at a small show with a limited crowd. ( No insult to the event meant. I love you Chad! ) The event was very enlightening too. I picked up a bunch of tips to improve my booth’s presentation. As such, I have a ton of prep work to do before the next show. ( Arkansas Comic Con in Little Rock, AR. Followed by Spa-Con. )
In other news, I’m working on the cover for the print version of Astray3 chapter three this week. I should be dropping some sneak peeks in a couple of days. After that, I’ll start working on renovating the website. And in between, I’ll be working on some new prints and banners for the upcoming events. It’ll be a busy couple of months.
Astray3 chapter 3 is in the can and trundling it’s way to a print version. If some of you think it ended a bit prematurely, you would be correct. Originally, the combined chapters three and four were supposed to be the end of the first planned big book of Astray3. However, around 30 pages seem to be the best fit for the individual print version. So, I cut the big chapter in half. Chapter four will be the final for the collected big book and include an epilogue.
Speaking of chapter four, where is it? As the last several months have proven, updates have gotten erratic due to all the extracurricular work I’ve taken on. ( Like prepping for books and shows. ) Also, it’s time to update the website and build an online store to sell the aforementioned books. Thus, chapter four’s release will be delayed for a few months. This will give me time to improve the website and rebuild the buffer. As mentioned in the title, here is a roadmap…if recent video games have taught me anything, people LOVE roadmaps.
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Tasks in order:
• Finish up and prep chapter three for it’s print debut.
• Renovate the website to make it much easier to navigate and read.
• Create a web store. ( And maybe start offering commission work. Don’t hold your breath though. )
• Build a one to two-month comic buffer. This will merely forestall inconsistent updates given the increased production time. But hey, at least we can have regular updates for a few months.
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In the meantime, I’ll be dropping sneak previews of upcoming pages here and on the Patreon page as work progresses. Plus, if you live in the Northwest and Central Arkansas area I will be doing multiple comic conventions. ( Death Ray Expo, Arkansas Comic Con, and Spa-Con respectively. ) Depending on the success of these shows, I’ll look into expanding to neighboring states.
That’s it for now. Stay tuned for more updates as we head into the BIGGEST chapter of Astray3 yet!
Just a quick update to say the next and last update for the current chapter will land on Thursday. Inks are done, but it’s a big one with a lot of coloring. In the meantime, Enjoy some Procreate sketchums.
A quick update for your perusal. You probably just now noticed that Astray3 page 37 has arrived. Page 38, the final page of the current chapter, will post sometime this coming weekend. With the last page in the can, chapter three will be off to the printer in the coming months. This will require some time to organize and create the cover. And, this lapse will also mark the beginning of a larger break period for Astray3.
Chapter three marks the end of what I consider the prologue period of the new Astray3. Chapter four will see Astray3 moving into more “familiar” territory. It is shaping up to be a big one. So, to get the book back to a semi-regular update schedule, I need to rebuild the buffer. I currently predict that the comic will start posting again in August or the beginning of September. Also, during this break, I will be addressing the website’s abysmal layout and building a new web-store. Yeah, it’s annoying, but since I’m working solo it can’t be helped. I’ll keep posting new stuff and teasers in the meantime to wet yall’s whistle.
