Very nearly complete.  And given that it’s so close to being done, I thought I’d post it here as a preview.

I reworked the composition a few times.  More and more I think the composition is like the first serve in tennis.  If you get the first serve in, then the rest is easy.  Same seems to be true of composition.  Nail down the composition and everything seems to fall together rather well.  That is to say that all the decisions seem to be dictated by the composition and you don’t have to solve very many problems.  The composition usually tells you that the elements will have to be weighted a certain way and then it’s just a matter of obeying the dictates the composition laid down.

Needless to say, woe will betide you if the composition is weak.

“Betide” is a good word.  Let’s work on bringing that back.

Kind of tired after this one.  I changed it a great deal, worked and reworked it several times.  Reworked the overall composition more than a few times.  I could use a break after this one.

Any number of difficult problems to solve with this page.  I considered drawing the scene out over two pages or so.  When I looked over the layouts, however, I thought it bordered on being tedious.

I like the idea of depicting the monster, Kaldgrani, in repose, but I don’t want to dwell on it.  The story needs to move on into the impending violence that awaits.

That said, I could still change my mind again and add another page before taking the entire graphic novel to the printer.

Working on an easel.  These are rough cut pieces for the base.  Once the base is complete, I’ll attach casters and begin work on the frame for the easel.

More than a little concerned about the size of the actual easel.  Looking at a design laid out on paper, seven feet or so of time comprising an easel seems like nothing.  I mean, after all, these lines on paper…  No problem.  We have plenty of room for some pencil lines.  Our house is three dimensional.  We’re three dimensional.  An easel comprised of two dimensional lines…  That’s nothing.

Now of course I’m beginning to see this seven foot tall, three dimensional, solid wood entity beginning to take shape in the garage and let’s just say I’m more than a little concerned about having it inside.

I wonder what the dogs will think of it.

And my wife.

I kind of wonder what she’ll think.  I wonder if we should have talked about this.

I don’t know.  Talking never seems to work out for me.  With talking, there’s a chance she’ll refuse and I’d just as soon avoid that even if it means dealing with consequences later.

Cyril Connolly famously wrote “There is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall.”

For those who never dated a British girl or boy, or watched Public Television, “Pram” is British for stroller, as in baby stroller.

Connolly had a point.  Childcare and art…  They’re not friends.

This week has brought that point home to me.  My son begins kindergarten on Wednesday, just half days, eight to eleven for this first week.  I was father all day yesterday and I’ll be playing that role again today.

I suspect you’ve already gleaned that this is a serious blow to my productivity.   Much less work on Athra this week than in weeks past.

On a lighter note, I began trying to establish a Facebook page last night.  That really makes me hate myself in some ways.

All this childcare will not, however, prevent the appearance of the new Athra page tomorrow.  That’s all set and ready to roll.

And now I have to make breakfast for the beast, or “our son”, as my wife calls him.

And those are scare quotes.  So, you know, be afraid of those four little marks.

My son begins kindergarten (German word, awesome) next week.

One of the kids in his class is named Khan.

KKKKKKKKKKKKHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!