Freelance Comic       

OK folks!
All the preliminary information and some rough images and ideas are here and we've had contact with (almost) everybody. So the project is really underweigh (to employ a nautical term). By the meeting on the 26th October I'd hope that we can take things a stage further. Please keep an eye on the Blog at
http://freelancecomic.blogspot.com
Andrew can give you details of how to log in and contribute comment/reactions if you don't already have them. This is a great way to interact in a group context between meetings and for those who aren't able to attend. Do add to the process.
Many thanks,
-Borin

He sat by the window and watched. [Jason Chapman]

And yet, something wasn't quite right. [David Truzzi-Franconi]

When he got back he couldn't believe what had happened. [Margaret Nelson]

(...) [Malcolm Moseley]

Latest pics.





Initial paintings.

He wandered lonely as a cloud, thinking, remembering. [David Upson]

He worked fast and furiously. [Borin Van Loon]

He considered his options. [Steve Joyce]

And here are some of Steve's drawings:

She was there, laughing at him. [Daniel Rounding]

Thank god for that, he thought as he walked towards it. [?]

He stopped running when he realised he was lost. [Sally Launder]

It was like that recurring dream he'd had as a child. [Hilli Thompson]

(...) [Mo Galvani]

Then the women went wild. [Andrew Smith]

At first, he couldn't work out what they were doing. [Annabel Mednick]

Latest pics.




Initials ideas.

Following her instructions, he came to a very strange place. [Mark Beesley]

He mustn't keep her waiting. She'd always hated being kept waiting. [Angela Harvey]

The moment he opened his eyes he knew something was different. [Ferial Evans]

In the room were a selection of musical instruments and propped up against the wall, was a full length, life-size portrait of Oscar Wilde, in an ornate frame.
He had woken from a deep sleep and he struggled to recollect the evening before. He was sure that all, apart from his violin were not here when he fell asleep. Then he noticed a bottle of laudanum on the bedside table. Had he been drugged? Come to think of it, that might be what dear old Oscar would take to relieve the pain of his troubled life.
Where had he been last evening? Ah, his stupor was lifting; he had been at a gig playing the violin in his folk band. One of the numbers was ‘The Ballard of Reading Gaol’. Was this a clue, was this paranormal? Had he unleashed Oscar’s troubled soul and did Oscar want his help?
As he pondered, he glanced at the clock. Oh no, look at the time, he had overslept and she was expecting him in half an hour. He would have to sort this mystery out later……………

She Wife? Girlfriend? Fellow band member? Therapist? Dentist?………….

This is an account of progress of the Freelance Comic (after meeting 28.09.06)

1. Note on page dimensions. The dimensions of a single page are:26.03cm high (10.25") x 16.827cm wide (6.625")This is a standard US comic book page size. We need to take 1 cm off the top and the foot of each page. These areas will carry a coloured band bearing the contributor's sentence at the top and the contributor's name at the foot (on the right hand page). The remaining area 24.03cm x 16.827cm can be used by the contributor for artwork. Artwork can bleed off the page edge and into the gutter (the join between the two pages of the spread) and up to the coloured bands described. This will give the book a unity, given the wide variety of styles and approaches.

2. We are calling the project 'The Freelance Comic' until we are in a position to decide on something different, this final title for the book will then appear on the front cover (and probably in small text at the bottom left of each spread - on the coloured band).

3. There isn't a firm deadline for the work (see Margaret's email), but we'd like to keep things on a roll so that everyone delivers in reasonable time. Deadline for finished work will 'emerge' as we go on. Please note that once all is safely gathered in from contributors, that's when the real work begins to turn artwork into digital files, impose on a page make-up grid, create inside covers, front and back covers. additional pages, publication information (Imprint, ISBN, address etc. etc.), credits and introduction - phew! I have asked Andrew to take a lead on this and I will assist, we may need one other to form a Publication Subgroup. There's a lot of work involved and I don't want Andrew (or Borin...) to carry the whole burden; we all have busy lives, so it could take some time to achieve. We'll consult with contributors as we go along (e.g. decisions on the cover).

4. Contributor's thoughts (their -guide sentence- follows their name).

Angela Harvey -The moment he opened his eyes he knew something was different.-
(Following a 'phone call) is pursuing themes, perhaps using textiles, knitting etc.

Margaret Nelson -When he got back he couldn't believe what had happened.-
has emailed:"Having been out of action for several days (again) and still not too bright, I regret I can't make it tonight - very annoying! If you or anyone want to contact me (particularly Malcolm or David), feel free. I haven't got as far as committing any ideas to paper, but have ordered some 2nd-hand comics & graphic novels online and will consider my options. "When he got back he couldn't believe what happened" has generated a few ideas. One was to begin by looking over his shoulder at an interior that had either been trashed, or where there's something surreal going on. May use photography for references, but draw with pen and ink and colour in. Let me know what goes on. Is there deadline for this? I'm quiet eager to begin, but have promised a logo for someone first and have a funeral next week (not doing many, but this is for a former client)."

Daniel Rounding -She was there, laughing at him.-
brought along a large photograph of an acqaintance who he calls an Avatar, which he wants to use, perhaps collaged with a press cutting he found on graphic novels (Andrew and Borin recommended colour photocopies from Hot Off The Press in Tacket Street - cheap and good) to try out the cutting and pasting; Daniel plans that this might lead on to some colour work.

Borin Van Loon -He worked fast and furiously.-
bought along some test collages on an equine theme drawn - in this instance from old children's annuals. Narrative spread. Wants to work with Steve Joyce and David Upson (just a little bit) to provide a visual link into his spread from Steve and out of his spread onto David's.

Annabel Mednick -At first, he couldn't work out what they were doing.-
colour variations between spreads of some graphic novels interest her. Using her own colour photographs as reference (figure in interior, looking out of window, reaching down into garden, ants building a spaceship - no photos of this last yet, but some nice Dalinian ant reference), with close-ups, different perspectives etc.

Andrew Smith -Then the women went wild.-
more political approach (drawing on appalling things in the world which make him wild). Pencil rough of wild mouth with huge teeth (perhaps one of those tropical fish with huge, fearsome mouth). Condoleeza Rice, women suicide bombers (themes of motivations of martyrs etc.)

Ferial Evans -The moment he opened his eyes he knew something was different.-
nothing to show at the moment; a bit daunted by being the first contributor in the book, but something will transpire.

Michael Legg stated that he didn't want to participate. This leaves our project with a problem. We have a guide sentence in the sequence with noone to do the spread. As the Chair has already had to find one substitute contributor, the well is probably dry. Three suggestions: (1) ask Sally if she would mind taking on a second sentence for her spread as she is the contributor before number 9. (2) ask Erica if we could remove this sentence altogether - both of these would reduce the number of spreads to 16 (3) do a 'jam session' of several contributors to retain the full number of spreads. It's vital that everyone stays fully signed up for this project and engaged with what's going on; that's why we've taken Andrew up on his suggestion of running a blog (on-line journal) for the Freelance Comic. Everyone can catch up and contribute even if they miss meetings. Bulletins mailed to those without computers.

Sally Launder -He stopped running when he realised he was lost.-
working, so couldn't attend meeting, but is on board for the project (sorry about the management speak...)

Steve Joyce -He considered his options.-
exploratory pencil drawings / self portraits, figures in landscape, architectural-style perspective drawings, abstract rendering of choice of direction. Wants to do drawings, but not linear narrative; perhaps use layered images.

Hilli Thompson -It was like that recurring dream he'd had as a child.-
not sure what she's going to do, but is still intent on contributing. Malcolm said that Hilli's work will look good in the book and encouraged her. (Several people envious of her guide sentence!)

Malcolm Moseley -(...)-
brought along the most prolific set of prepatory work of the night, Paintings on found pages from newpapers and Thompsons directories using colour, iconography, pattern.

David Truzzi-Franconi -And yet, something wasn't quite right.-
Storyboard-type approach (done in the airport while waiting hours for a 'plane). Funny / poignant more literal approach to his guide sentence.m.

Mark Beesley -Following her instructions, he came to a very strange place.-
by 'phone; still committed to the project and will come up with some ideas soon.

Mo Galvani -(...)-
by email:"Many apologies but I won't be able to make the Thurs Freelance meeting as I'm going to the Regent to see the Vagina Monologues with a few people from work. Didn't realise at the time I agreed to go that it would coincide. Pity as I need all the help/inspiration I can get re. the comic!"

Erica Wildwood -narrative arc and single panel (beginning or end of comic, probably)-
Tired and had to work that night, but supportive of project (after all, she's done most of her contribution!).

I think that's everybody

So, we heard from everyone involved except for David Upson -He wandered lonely as a cloud, thinking, remembering.- and Jason Chapman -He sat by the window and watched.-- hello chaps! Keep in touch.

Andrew took digital photos of a selection of roughs/ideas for this blog. Thanks to him. Please let Andrew know of any omission/corrections.

Erica Wildwood created the textual thread or narrative for our comic, this was sectioned into 17 roughly equal parts and sent to all members taking part. The following are the contributors' sentences in the page order that they will appear in the comic.

Narrative sentences and opening single panel on the title page. [Erica Wildwood]
1. The moment he opened his eyes he knew something was different. [Ferial Evans]
2. He mustn't keep her waiting. She'd always hated being kept waiting. [Angela Harvey]
3. Following her instructions, he came to a very strange place. [Mark Beesley]
4. At first, he couldn't work out what they were doing. [Annabel Mednick]
5. Then the women went wild. [Andrew Smith]
6. (...) [Mo Galvani]
7. It was like that recurring dream he'd had as a child. [Hilli Thompson]
8. He stopped running when he realised he was lost. [Sally Launder]
9. Thank god for that, he thought as he walked towards it. [Sally & Daniel?]
10. She was there, laughing at him. [Daniel Rounding]
11. He considered his options. [Steve Joyce]
12. He worked fast and furiously. [Borin Van Loon]
13. He wandered lonely as a cloud, thinking, remembering. [David Upson]
14. (...) [Malcolm Moseley]
15. When he got back he couldn't believe what had happened. [Margaret Nelson]
16. And yet, something wasn't quite right. [David Truzzi-Franconi]
17. He sat by the window and watched. [Jason Chapman]

Freelance is an informal group of freelance professional illustrators, artists and designers based in the Ipswich area, in the East of England (see our website for more details). We meet once a month and offer help & support to each other. In March 2006 one of our members suggested that we collaborate and produce a comic. Since then we have kicked the idea around and eventually settled on a format: one of our members, writer Erica Wildwood, would produce a narrative, while the other participants (17 others in fact) would all take a line and illustrate it in whatever way they chose.

Well, the narrative has been written, each artist/designer has their line, and has been working on initial ideas and sketches; so the project has really started. We met in September to review the initial work: some participants had quite well developed ideas, others hadn't started but had a few initial thoughts. We also decided we should start a blog to record progress, encourage collaboration within the group and potentially invite comments. We may publish the finished comic in 2007, but we're not working to a strict deadline!