Drew this way back in August last year so v pumped to see kepi in the ring!! 

Hi dudes!

Would really like some comments/critiques on a work-in-progress storyboard if any of you are up for it!

The story is a short about Merrik/Trixie - but don't worry if you don't know them (It's been like a year since I last battled). If this storyboard is working, it shouldn't matter if you know them or not! Anyway, here is the full board. It's kind of long so please don't Tl;Dr too soon!  ;v; <3
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_coOzjwbArRSndKaFNHZ1pDeWs
(Let me know if the link is working ok!<3)
here's a preview of how some of the panels look atm:

This started as a comic series idea, then grew into a collab with Skulls, even though she (understandably) got too busy I carried it on. If anyone else would be interested in collab-ing that would be pretty rad <3

Ultimately it will be a portfolio piece. There's loads of comics in there already so wanted to do something different, while still expanding on Merrik/Trixies story. It's kind of a stripped-down snippet from a larger arc.

I'd really like some advice on how to proceed tho. Not being versed at all in the process, since past storyboards have been for live-action commercials It's starting to feel kind of overwhelming? Storyboards are supposed to be rough and sketchy,  but atm it's too rough and sketchy. There are other options ofc, and any advice from the more animation-driven of you would be really helpful.

I don't have the stamina to finish up every single panel in fully-coloured properly rendered drawing, but would making a couple of 'fake screenshots' be a good option or a waste of time? animate sections?? IDK??? GO HOG WILD LIL VOIDSTERS!

if it's boring and you stopped reading half way that's still valuable feedback so let me know which bits made you lose interest etc so it can be chopped appropriately!

Good to see you back and gearing up again

In regards to the bottom panel, try to make the skyline the darkest area, and maybe pick out little bright pinpricks of light in it. Try to reverse your gradients on the ground/sky. The horizon should be the darkest bit, but not too dark, so the skyline is still vivid against it.  The underside of the clouds would benefit from being darkest just to be easily read, and a good way to show the direction of light would be to have clem and the cacti casting long shadows onto the ground.

otherwise, good stuff! keep going and put everything you have into this, it'd be great to get you in!

In terms of improving overall page quality, there's a lot you can do. 

First of all even at the sketches stage use a ruler, especially on the panel boarders. Make your panel lines denser,  too.

Add more flavour to your backgrounds,  i.e. the rest of the room is currently the box zone.  Add some picture on walls,  skirting boards,  is the floor wooden or carpeted wallpaper damage to the area,  is there a ruf,  how is it lit?  No Windows in a vault room so this is important ? etc fill in the blanks for your readers.

Last big gripe is your word bubbles and panel layouts.  You keep putting the bubbles over characters even those there's huge amounts of space elsewhere in the panel.  You have a lot of tangents with the bubble edges,  panel edges and your characters,  So just be a little more fastidious when choosing these things.

You aren't there yet,  But make sure you choose a nice font.  I assume this is only hand written because it's still a sketch.

Congrats everyone!!!

I just wanted to take a sec to say thanks. Having someone remember and think of merrik/his comics as nominations really does mean the world. I was genuinely surprised to even see them crop up at all,  so thank you to whoever did that. <3

It warms my heart to see that the best,  most deserving people have won in all the catagories- so again congratulations to our years worth to top dogs and winners

Eyyooo glad to see you're still powering through on this.

I think Clem is v cool!!

Got some tips for you on backgrounds, cause I used to not be able to stomach them either! The best thing you can do is get your teeth into treating your background like a character in itself.  You can use it to tell part of your story,  and hide things in them to reward the most diligent readers. It's really great fun when you find the joy in it. If you feel stuck,  go on an adventure on Google street view,  or read up on some symbolism in film and things like that,  you'll be surprised what you can find when you look deeper

A couple of things to consider overall art wise though:
Your line work is a little soft and in places indecisive. Have faith in your ability to draw and maybe try using a harder-edged brush?  You seem confident when you've used colour,  which is great,  but the vivid tones unfortunately clash with the slightly less confident line work.

When using grey tones,  don't be afraid to push them harder. It might be interesting to try shading in only solid blacks.  That will force you to know your drawing really well,  and will help the erm 'laziness' (although maybe disengagement is a better word? ).

Like I say,  I'm pumped to see you're throwing yourself into this and cannot wait to see what you do next!

Woooah pockyyyy!!! Thank you so so much,  what  a stunning gift! You've really brought a huge grin to my dumb face with this, thank you!!!!!!!! <3 I'll  pm you in a sec ; v; 

 Glad you like yours Becs let me know if you want the higher res version or anything <3

Happy new year everyone!!!

SIGHS WELL OKAY THEN
<3

Void city Fashions by Trixie.

L->R
Adamantine, Jiko Shi, Gargonne and Aegis, & Charlotte Gray (AND DAD)

AITE SO

Looks like It's nearly decision time Mentors!!! Some of you have already accepted some trainees, which is ace! I hope ur all getting connected and chatting with each other as a warm up ; )

THUS FAR it looks like
Hats: Wu and PaintedPaws,
and maybe Jiisuri: energy.

(Then there's possibly me: Shen and Skulls: me as time allows?) If anyone else wants to apply to Skulls, since I'm crazy busy so wont be taking much of her time, please go ahead!

We've still got some people interested in trainee-dom, who are as yet unclaimed by a mentor. If there is a mentor willing to take on INKSWORD, even though they do not have access to art materials for a short while, please let us know!

Same goes for DANSOME, who doesn't have a preference of mentor either, so any mentors without applicants should snap up these trainees, please!

pocketm0use.devintart.com

go roll in the filth!

C'mon dudes we've still got a couple of slots left to fill! Even if you just joined the site today, jump in a grab a mentor!!!