A Long Walk

There's much work on the wall these days. From left to right in the above photo is the semi-organization of ideas to artboard. The yellow post-its contain scribblings of all the comics I dream of doing, the late night concoctions of friends, the writer I may have met a year ago who's proposed book projects, etc. From there is a small collage of art and sketches of something I'm brewing in the pot.

Then it's a grid of projects that are in-progress. A script I am thinking on, scripts w/ attached memos from the editors, a proposal that's simultaneously on another editor's desk, artboards prepped with bounding boxes, seven-pages of layout art, and then the comic I am currently ruling borders out on that has moved from thumbtack to drafting table.

Essential to the desk: coffee, the immediate tools I need for the task, laptop which provides reference materials and notes for my project, music for the office stereo, iChat to keep in touch with my friends (what's goin' down, noricat?), Facebook, and a photo of Vosge's bacon-chocolate via Big City, Little Kitchen.

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Now playing: Jill Scott - A Long Walk
via FoxyTunes

Think think think!

Much of my time and mind has been in think-mode. Several comic projects I've underway are all in that exciting initial stage of mapping and laying out... I ponder how to lay out the panels so they transition in an effective manner for action and pacing and emotional impact. I wonder how to squeeze in all the dialog, what can be snipped and what's important to content. I dream about the characters and how they behave, what do they wear, how do they react?

Being in a bit of a time crunch, I'm not wasting any time commuting to the office and have spent a couple mornings at Think Coffee. Not because they're oatmeal isn't too bad (I don't like oatmeal, but have resolved to eat it this year), most definitely because I support their business ethics and conduct, but it's abuzz with people which I find really energizing. Laptops whirring, coffee being sipped, brains all working! And should I need an extra boost of the mind and soul, I hop over to Ted Talks (discovered via the amazing Tina Eisenberg) and listen to Isabel Allende talking about tales of passion and real life and its translation to fiction.

Most of the Ted Talks are incredibly inspiring, but listening to Ms. Allende speaking about women overcoming incredibly harsh and seemingly futile struggles and odds... what I wouldn't give or do to adapt one of her books to graphic novel! Particularly Zorro, even if the comics world is pretty awash in Zorro fiction, and really, who can top Alex Toth? But, Allende's romantic version is world-spanning and rich with history and incredible characters... in her version, behind this great man is not just one woman but at least half a dozen extraordinary women.

The Librarian Inside

Okay, I'm not a librarian, but I do love the books. This is a portion of a 13-foot long shelving system that I sketched out on paper and had installed onto my living room wall. It's done from lovely brackets I purchased from Anthropologie and three very long pieces of oak that I also stained. My inspiration came from the Beatles film Help!, specifically John Lennon's sunken bed w/ the four walls of book shelves. Oh, what a man, what vision. SIGH.

Anyway, because of my recent addiction to that damnable Facebook, I've gotten acquainted with the app Goodreads. So cute, but I absolutely despise how error-ridden it is. I swear, I added nearly half my book collection, thoughts, ratings, and guess what? It only showed ONE book in my "good reads". I'll figure it out one day... but for those who care, here I am:

Finally, FACEBOOK.

Like I need another thing to join! But, I shall do it for Mr. Sebastien... and you. Feel free to click the badge.

Paper doll me

Johnny & paper doll Me & actual Me, originally uploaded by christinenorrie.

DESKSET! Today my desk is at the coffee shop.

This is a paper doll version of myself drawn last winter for a funny idea I had to catalog all my clothes. So, instead of standing in front of closet or digging through drawers trying to find a decent outfit, i just consult amazing paper wardrobe! It was a good idea...

Sad lil' me.

sad xtine, originally uploaded by christinenorrie.

My DESKSET contribution for Wednesday morning.

DESKSET / homie

DESKSET / homie, originally uploaded by spookoo.

Spent three hours drawing at the Spring Street Studio this morning. Very successful drawings, with much-needed feedback and suggestions from the monitor/instructor.

I met another illustrator there who actually studied at the Joe Kubert School and is now attending the Art Students' League. Both of us discussed our fondness for super-hero comics and the desire to infuse that aesthetic with basic, traditional art skills... and how much we miss Igor Kordey's European-style in mainstream comics very much.

Above is my DESKSET contribution for the week, with my at-home studio-mate, Monkey Cat.

DESKSET w/ Nick Bertozzi

DESKSET w/ Nick, originally uploaded by spookoo.

We've got a new office-mate! Nick Bertozzi casually moved into our space last week... he's seen here working on his thumbnails for a LENNY BRUCE biography with Harvey Pekar.

http://www.nickbertozzi.com

DESKSET/ project wall

DESKSET/ project wall, originally uploaded by spookoo.

Wouldn't you like to email me at office@christinenorrie.com to see your project on my wall? Serious and lucrative offers only, please.

DESKSET/Feet @ da OFFICE

DESKSET/Feet @ da OFFICE, originally uploaded by spookoo.

It's 11am and I haven't accomplished anything except being a world-class klutz and bore. In an effort to get the gears rolling, I have posted my weekly contribution to DESKSET. With a quick snap, you see my laptop against the semi-changing array of books and taped up bits of paper. You also see my poor feet.

DESKSET @ office

DESKSET @ office, originally uploaded by spookoo.

Campus Cutie at the midtown office today. I purchased her and a few pals at Uncle Fun about, gee... over ten years ago? Yeesh. Anyway, today I am finishing inking my GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY WEDDING contribution. While listening to the Rolling Stones' Forty Licks.

http://www.scrubbles.net/cc.html
http://www.unclefunchicago.com/

Desk

Christine Norrie / Desk, originally uploaded by spookoo.

This is my work-in-progress desk at the midtown office I share with John Kuramoto. This desk serves as mission control for all the various projects. jobs, and modes I work in. Laptop handy for email and internet, file folders for administration work, comic pages that need to be inked, etc.