CROM Update: 003 with Guest Artist Jake Jacobs
Refining the Savage: Artistic Enhancements in Crom’s Claiming Skull-Biter
In the third episode from the "Crom Updates Podcast," where host Kurt Brugel and guest Jake Jacobs continue their discussion, focusing on art direction for Kurt's Claiming Skull-Biter Crom comic. They go through Kurt's original pencil drawings from 2015, providing a critique aimed at improving the artwork.
They discuss various technical details to enhance the comic's visuals, like adjusting lighting for smoother transitions, tweaking font styles to achieve an old typewriter readability, and modifying gray tones and line work for better definition. Jake gives specific advice on making the comic more reader-friendly by adjusting elements to frame the action better and de-harshifying to soften contrasts.
Jake also suggests adding more dynamism to the characters' expressions and poses, such as using excitement lines, drool for energy projection, and furrowed brows for anger. He emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the text is integrated into the art and does not crowd the space, suggesting tweaks to the positioning of elements like tusks and limbs for clarity and impact.
The session is detailed, with Jake pointing out areas where contrast can be increased, suggesting the addition of backgrounds or features like clouds to fill white spaces and improve storytelling. They also touch upon the need to balance light and dark areas to guide the reader's focus through the panels effectively.
Watch the CROM Update 003 video:
Jake Jacobs is the co-host, writer, and penciler with Me (Kurt Brugel), inker and co-author on the Making Turbo Pit-fighter Podcast.
Use these links to find out more about Jake Jacobs
Use these links to find out more about Kurt Brugel
