SCI-FI-FANTASY COMIC

What I draw in my sketchbook also goes here. LINKTR.EE

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Stop trying to make it "pretty" before you make it "work." 😅

When I was mapping out this page for Issue 1, I had to remind myself: the reader doesn't care how good the line weight is if they don't know what the story is telling them. Thumbnails are the only time you get to focus purely on the narrative flow, the composition, and the emotional beat of the page. If the story doesn't sing here, no amount of polish later will fix it.

I’m currently in the trenches working on new pages, and I’m curious—when you’re building your own project, what’s the biggest story hurdle you’re trying to clear? Is it pacing, composition, or maybe just keeping the plot moving? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re tackling it! ✍️

#IndieComic #ComicArt #LineArt #ComicProcess #StorytellingTips

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From Sketch to Sea-faring Nightmare 🏴‍☠️🧛‍♂️

They say being a pirate is a cutthroat business. Adding immortality to the mix? That’s just being an overachiever.

Swipe through the evolution of this barnacle-covered bloodsucker—from the first, messy sketch to the final polished render.

Which part of the process is your favorite? Let me know in the comments. 👇

#CharacterDesign #AnimationProcess #DigitalArt #PirateVampire #ArtPortfolio #CreativeWorkflow #ConceptArt

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Here I am—30 years in the industry as an Animation Supervisor.

I get asked a lot about my creative process, especially for my indie comic Zara Duskbane. The biggest lesson I’ve learned? I would never jump into the colouring phase until the story is working in its simplest form.

A great palette should enhance a strong performance, not hide a weak one. Whether I’m supervising a studio team or working on my own pages, the goal is always the same: character first, every single time.

What’s one "rule" in your creative process you’d never break? Let’s chat in the comments!

#AnimationSupervisor #ZaraDuskbane #IndieComics #CharacterDesign

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One hour is enough if you don't waste a second. ⏳

That’s the reality of making Zara Duskbane while working full-time in animation. The writing, thumbs, and pencils are in the rearview. Inks are locked. Now? We color.

Current status: 6 pages deep. The goal is a page a day. Stay for the process, stay for the character.

#ZaraDuskbane #IndieComics #ComicProcess #CharacterFirst #AnimatorLife #DrawingDaily #ComicArt

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RIP to the Astral Elf who almost led Zara Duskbane. 🌌

They had the look, but they didn't have the voice. Sometimes you have to draw the wrong person to realize who the right one is. My puppet assistant is currently handling the "rejection letters" for my old sketches. He’s being quite smug about it.

#ZaraDuskbane #CharacterDesign #ProcessArt #TTRPG #IndieComics #SketchesAndSavingThrows

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Writing is hard, so I stopped trying to be "fancy" and started being effective. For the latest Zara Duskbane animation, I leaned into a simple loop: Action -> Explanation -> Mystery.

I’m a character-first creator, and this hack keeps Zara moving without me getting lost in the weeds of "high literature."

The Hack:

Start with a bang.

Tell them just enough to stay grounded.

Give them a reason to ask "Why?"

What’s your favorite way to "cheat" through a difficult creative step? ✍️✨

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Stop waiting for the 'spark' to finish your comic. I’ve been in animation for 3 decades and the only thing that actually works is a boring-ass schedule.

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I’m Scott. I’ve directed for the big animation studios, but for my comic Zaradusk Bane, I’m using my favorite pro-tip: The Gap Strategy. I built intentional buffers into my schedule to balance life, work, SCAD, family, and my own downtime without burning out.

Are you a "grinder" or a "scheduler"? Let’s talk in the comments! 👇

#ZaraduskBane #AnimationDirector #ComicArtist #CreativeProcess #WorkLifeBalance

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Current mood: Channelling the "Sword and Planet" aesthetic for Zara Duskbane.

I’m pulling heavily from the weird-fantasy vibes of Blackstar and the maritime-in-space logic of Spelljammer. I want the world to feel like a Frank Frazetta painting came to life inside a technicolor disco ball. If you miss when sci-fi was weird, pulpy, and unapologetically epic, stay tuned. 🛸🗡️

Tags: #Comics #ZaraDuskbane #SwordAndSorcery #Spelljammer #FlashGordon #RetroAesthetic #ArtLog

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A lot of people ask about my "Plot vs. Character" priority.

The truth? I’m a character-first creator, every single time. I start with a character idea and a sketch. Once the character is on the page, the world begins to crystallize around them to support (or challenge) their design.

I use the drawing to figure out the stakes. I look at a character I’ve designed and ask: "What is the worst possible situation for this specific person to be in?" That’s where the plot begins. The story is just the natural consequence of a specific design existing in a world built to push their buttons.

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The 1992 Undo Trap. 🐀

There’s a specific madness in early digital art. No stylus, just a mouse like a brick, and the power to erase your sins with a click. I once spent an afternoon perfecting a curve until it was a hollow victory. Creation isn't about being right; it’s about being brave enough to leave the smudge.

#Photoshop #Animation #OldSchool #DigitalPainting #1990s #CreativeWriting

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A new challenger appears!

Hello, I’m Scott. I’ve been an animator and director in this industry for 30 years (allegedly), working at places like DreamWorks and Marvel.

When I’m not at my animation desk, I’m building my own comic book series. I’m joining Tumblr to share the stuff I can’t easily show elsewhere: the concepts, the sketchbook iterations, and the raw process of creating a universe (mostly using only coffee and questionable physics).

Follow along if you want to see the grit behind the magic and learn how to think while you create.

#artist introduction #my art #animation #marvel fanart #comicart #process #art process

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Escape mounts: Practical or Plot-driven? 🐉✨

I’m messing around with these two designs today and it got me wondering... if your OC is trapped, are they taking the sleek speedster or the weird, heavy-lifter?

How does that choice change the vibe of the whole scene? Tell me the details in the reblogs!

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The Sketch is the Last Step. 📐✨

In 30+ years of professional animation, I’ve learned one universal truth: If you start with the drawing, you’ve already lost the story. When building out a new environment or character, I don't start with "cool shapes." I start with a narrative problem. Before the first line is even drawn, I decide the who, why, and what of the scene. When you establish the story choices first, every line you eventually draw has a job to do.

Survival Rule: Logic over Aesthetics.

The Story: Defines the constraints.

The Constraints: Define the design.

Level up your skill: Next time you’re at the board, give yourself a narrative "conflict" to solve before you sketch. Your portfolio shouldn't just show that you can draw; it should show that you can think.

#WorldBuilding #ConceptArt #AnimationPro #DesignThinking #ArtDirectorTips #PortfolioReview