CROM Update 040: LIVE with Guest Artist Jason Schoonover & Cromdahar layouts

Sep 17

In Episode 40 of the CROM Updates Podcast, Kurt Brugel and guest artist Jason Schoonover discuss their work on the six-page comic story for Cromdahar. Jason shares his frustrations about working solo and the difficulties of making artistic decisions in isolation. He explains how he lays out the sketches and panels for the comic, struggling with certain design aspects. Kurt reassures Jason that working on CROM comics should be stress-free, collaborative, and fun, applauding him for initiating the podcast discussion.

The two creators dive deeper into their collaboration, discussing the first couple of pages of Cromdahar and how to approach the visual storytelling. Kurt advises Jason to let go of some of the technicalities in the layouts at this stage, encouraging him to keep the process playful and organic. They exchange ideas about character placement, tension-building between characters, and the balance of action and storytelling. Kurt emphasizes the importance of keeping the project fun and relaxed, aiming for a creative flow that allows artistic freedom.

By the end of the episode, they’ve made significant progress on the comic, deciding how to structure the remaining pages. Kurt also highlights the importance of seeking external feedback from collaborators like their mutual friend Jake, who adds a reader’s perspective. Both creators express excitement about their next steps and future podcast discussions, underscoring the importance of collaboration in their creative process.