Bastards 2
Posted: September 6th, 2010 | Author: sean azzopardi | Filed under: Anthologies | Tags: 2011, Angouleme, Bastards 2 | No Comments »
MCM Expo – London
Posted: September 6th, 2010 | Author: sean azzopardi | Filed under: Conventions | Tags: 2010, MCM Expo, Sean Azzopardi | No Comments »
This will be my fourth Expo, and in that small time the Comics Village part has really grown.
Thanks to the massive efforts of Emma and Anna.
Go here to view photos from the previous events.
Birmingham Zine Festival
Posted: September 1st, 2010 | Author: sean azzopardi | Filed under: Conventions | Tags: 2010, Birmingham Zine Fest | 1 Comment »
I will be joining in with the Birmingham Zine festival. There is also an exhibit of zine pages, and postcards. See if you can pick out a familiar face amongst these fine images. If anyone mails me with a correct spot i will send them a drawing.
Ed trade – update
Posted: September 1st, 2010 | Author: sean azzopardi | Filed under: Ed | Tags: 2010, Ed, Sean Azzopardi | No Comments »
Work is still progressing on the Ed trade, but is taking longer than anticipated. The final issues are to be grey scaled, then the whole thing proof read. In the meantime, here is a cover image grey scaled and tinted.
Malta Comic Con 2010
Posted: August 31st, 2010 | Author: sean azzopardi | Filed under: Conventions | Tags: 2010, Malta Comc Convention | No Comments »
The crazy Wicked comics people are hosting there second convention in Malta in a few weeks. I am thrilled to be asked back, and really looking forward to meeting up with Chris, Fabio Michael, and the rest of the crew.
A review of my first visit can be found here, the website here, and Twitter here.
More info to follow…
Ed portrait
Posted: August 23rd, 2010 | Author: sean azzopardi | Filed under: Ed | Tags: 2010, Ed | No Comments »
A reworking of the cover for issue two.
Artists Corner – Josceline Fenton
Posted: August 16th, 2010 | Author: sean azzopardi | Filed under: Artists Corner | Tags: 2010, Artists Corner, Circle, Hemlock, Josceline Fenton, Ukin | No Comments »
I first encountered Josceline’s work on the cover of the French Manga Anthology that I had contributed a strip to. Later it was through LUC events, and conventions in general. She has produced three books of Circle, Ukin, and now a webcomic, Hemlock. There is a strong graphic style aligned to Manga influences .
Firstly, I would like to ask what materials you use to create your pages, and what surfaces/paper do you use.
Do you see yourself as an experimenter or more of a traditionalist.
Is it line cuts water colours and varied papers, or dip pens and Bristol board.
I’m obsessed with ink at the moment. I tend to change my materials for each comic I do – for “Hemlock” I’m trying to use only Indian ink and brushes on A4 Daler Rowney heavyweight paper, with half tones added digitally. No pens, except for really fine lines. I think I’m probably quite traditional when it comes to the materials I use to make each page, but I like to be more experimental with cover artwork. Since I don’t see myself making a living off comics, my dream job is to design book covers, so the covers of my comics are very important to me!
(There is a step by step of how I make each page here, in two parts: http://fav.me/d2vwfur and http://fav.me/d2vwfvl)
You are in the second year of your graphic and media design course, is it sympathetic to your comic making. I see so many strong design elements in your work, has this developed because of education, or is it something you had a natural affinity for.
As an example, I have no real sense of design, pictorially or typographically. I studied fine art, there may well be a connection 
I hope it’s something I have a natural affinity for, otherwise I’m not sure why I’m studying it! I guess I’ll find out when I finish my degree. It has definitely helped, though. Graphic design won’t necessarily aid you in writing or drawing a comic, but it influences things like page layout, sound effects, speech bubbles and so on. Telling a story with images and words is an important part of both graphic design and comics, so I think there’s a lot of overlap.
How do you approach the comic making.
Do you write a full script, thumbnail, or dream an idea and then just let it develop as you draw.
That’s a hard question! Usually, I’ll have the idea in my head, and I’ll start by thinking about it for a really long time. Other times I’ll already have a character design, and the story will build around what I imagine them to be like. I don’t like to start the comic until I know how the story ends. The hardest part is always the middle of the story and figuring out how you get to that ending. Once I have the whole thing in my head, then I just start! I don’t use thumbnails or write a script, except when I have a long dialogue in my head that I think needs to be more concise.
Once the comic is completed, how is it distributed. For instance, was Circle and Ukin made specifically as a print project, is Hemlock a
web to print ?
For me the end product will always be print. I love books, there’s something so nice about having them in your hands. “Hemlock” is my first webcomic, but each page is designed to be ready to print as soon as the current chapter is finished. There were such long gaps between issues of “Circle” and the publication of “Ukin”, so I decided to post “Hemlock” online as I work on it to build up some momentum. I can definitely see the appeal of webcomics now, it feels like I’m actually telling the story to an audience rather than just myself.
What do you see as a dream project. Have you got a large idea that is bubbling away. Maybe a different format, maybe colour.
My dream project would be to do a comic book adaptation of Tim Burton’s film “Beetlejuice”! The cartoon spin-off was a huge influence on me when I was a kid. Other than that, I’m pretty open to everything!
Do you have an ideal studio set up in mind – maybe a woodland retreat, or a tower studio in Tokyo.
A library! I collect art books and magazines. I’d love a room lined with shelves to hold them all, with a nice big table in the middle. At the moment I actually sit hunched over on the floor to draw my comics, because my desk is so cramped. It’s not healthy.
What projects are you working on, and have lined up.
Right now I’m really just concentrating on “Hemlock” and my degree. The plot for “Hemlock” is pretty complicated, so it’s going to take me a while to finish. I’m aiming to have the first chapter printed by MCM Expo in October so I can sell it there. But I’m always looking for new things to do. My goal for the moment is to be more proactive about getting involved in collaborative projects.
Thank you Josceline for joining artists corner.
Pumphouse gallery
Posted: August 12th, 2010 | Author: sean azzopardi | Filed under: News | Tags: Pumphouse gallery | No Comments »
Pumphouse gallery, originally uploaded by sean azzopardi.
Just uploaded some photos from last nights opening at the Pumphouse gallery.
london film and comic con
Posted: August 2nd, 2010 | Author: sean azzopardi | Filed under: Conventions, News | Tags: 2010, Bones, Daniel Merlin Goodbrey, London film and comic convention, Sean Azzopardi, Star Trek | No Comments »
london film and comic con, originally uploaded by sean azzopardi.
First convention i have never sold anything, resulting in drawing old school Trek characters. Truly a personal low. Daniel did ok though, and we had a very pleasant evening drinking in N8.
Caption 2010
Posted: August 2nd, 2010 | Author: sean azzopardi | Filed under: Conventions | Tags: 2010, Caption, Sean Azzopardi | 2 Comments »
I was only attending the Saturday this year, but had a good time. There was a good range of talks, and a better variety of guests this year. Darryl Cunningham, Paul Holden and Melinda Gebbie to name a few. Good to catch up with people Like Paul Rainey, who had copies of the final NTLTP, Philippa Rice and Lizz Lunney , Timothy Winchester and Howard Hardiman with the Dino-Saw-Us collectible sticker game, and a whole host of other people that i was really happy to see. I managed to sell a few things, and make some sketches. Sadly my sketchbook stayed at Caption, so will have post some sketches later in the week.
I enjoy Caption, i must do, this was my ninth year. A big shout of thanks , as ever to the Caption organisers, that manage to pull it together every year. Finally, praise for Jay and Selina, who have done such a steady job. Amazingly it has been five years, how time passes. They are stepping down, and i wish them all the best in there next venture. Thank you
