I So Love this Process
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You'll be hearing me cry, "I'm finished," multiple times before I am really done.
Two weeks ago, I completed the body of my graphic novel, "Forget Sorrow: An Ancestral Tale.
Then I took five days off to play, feeling guilty after only the second day of goofing off.
final page on the easel
Tonight, I finished going over the yellow stickies containing notes from my editor, Alane Salierno Mason, on the first half of the book. I was worried I'd have to revise and redraw dozens of pages, but all I had to redo were five pieces. Other smaller textual and even design errors can be later corrected using Photoshop on my end. I imagine WW Norton and Company art directors will be using Quark software.
lots of stickies on the Xerox copies I sent to Alane last fall. This is half of the novel
I am always antsy to know the entirety of any process, so I get slight jitters thinking about the unknown aspects of the ensuing months, working with Alane and the art directors. Can I live up to their expectations? I tell myself I'm nearly half a century old, and I've never been stymied into immobility. There is always a solution or multiple avenues to solve a problem. Enjoy process. Life is process.
the original drawings of the graphic novel pages in hand
This week, when the weather cools, I'll go to the Xerox place and make copies of the second half of the novel, upon which Alane will make comments. The Xerox machine gives off a vast amount of heat, so I will skip next door for the frozen yoghurt to make the job less tedious.
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Belle Yang Redroom Retrospective: Images and Words
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Ivory Madison says:
Congratulations!!!!
I hope I am the first to say congratulations to you for finishing your graphic novel! I know I am not the first to congratulate you on being an extraordinary person.
And while I know this is irrelevant, you look absolutely gorgeous in this photo, like a deep lake that just turned into a woman to see what being human is like. Abe and I are at the office (yes, Sunday evening at 10:24PM), and he got my attention with, "Look, Belle is so cute! And she finished her book!"
So, you've got fans here at headquarters 24/7.
The pages look incredible. I think this book will be huge. Make sure they use the right scanning equipment and settings. And someday, I know there's going to be a book of your blogs on Red Room, and that will be my new favorite.
Ivory Madison
Founder & CEO, Red Room
Belle Yang says:
Hi, Ivory--
Came back to make an edit and how super to find your comment. It's a warm night and the windows are open. Seems I should be smelling honey suckle or jasmine. Congratulations on Cat Woman with DC. Love to Abe. What a weird winter, hunched over my drawing table, listening to the economic news, feeling my muscles bunching up. Now it is spring and I feel like I am an unclenching hand.
Abraham Mertens says:
It is a hot night. There
It is a hot night. There were still people in the garden behind our office until late into the evening talking and laughing. I often wish I knew what they were saying.
We have some jasmine on the porch in the back of the office and everytime I walk by I stop to take a deep breath. What a treat.
All the best from San Francisco.
Abraham Mertens, redroom.com
Jessica Barksdale Inclan says:
Congratulations again,
Congratulations again, Belle. Such a lot of work. Graphic novels stillboggle my mind--all that talent in one package.
Hot weather reminds me of a Tenessee Williams play, any of them. It's 6 am, and hot already. I hope you don't have to wait too long before you get your xeroxing done!
Best,
J
Jessica Barksdale Inclan
www.jessicabarksdaleinclan.com
Belle Yang says:
Stellaaaaa--I am embarrassed by all the kind words!!
I'll do it end of the week. I think it's supposed to rain. I passed out on the floor after going shopping and have just gotten back on my feet. Oh, lordy, I hate the Xeroxing part.
Shana McLean Moore says:
I agree with Jessica
All of that talent on every single page. It really does boggle the mind. What a gift, as well, to be allowed into the creative process with your photos and video. You're a wonderful and talented soul, Belle Yang.
Shana
Shana McLean Moore
www.caffeinatedponderings.com
www.sunnysidecommunications.com
Belle Yang says:
I always conflate you and black iris Ellen Sheeley
because the two of you have similar voices of kindness in your comments. Perhaps you are one and the same. I'm glad I didn't miss out on the comic book train leaving the station, Shana. Stay cool wherever you are. Thanks.
Gregory Roensch says:
Way to Go Belle!!!
Nothing else to say.
Just more applause from the Red Room.
And ... I look forward to reading your book.
Greg.
Belle Yang says:
Thank you, Gregoire
I hope your work is going smoothly, too. Now that the bulk of the work is behind me, I'll have more time to check out other people's posts.
Eric Nichols says:
A thunderous round of
A thunderous round of applesauce from here too! And a bouquet of balloons and a twenty-kazoo salute in your general direction.
Remember Proverbs 14:4 "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."
May your crib always have the clutter of creativity. :)
(As Monk would say....It's a gift....and a curse) :)
Blessings upon thee.
eric
Belle Yang says:
Eric,
I'm in the middle of the "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." The chapters about the Christians under Roman rule is fascinating. They were met with varied tactics under different Augusti. Also, watching the long Frontline production on the beginning of Christianity. I appreciate everything far more when I have a historical context.
May your crib be full of what makes the mushrooms grow?
Wendy Nelson Tokunaga says:
Omedeto Gozaimasu!
Love it, love it!
Belle Yang says:
Hai,
Arigato gozaimsu!
Ryoma Collia-Suzuki says:
Fabulous and fascinating
Hi Belle,
Lovely blog and fabulous photos as always. :)
Fascinating to see all the post-it notes you've been given to look through! Congratulations again, from both of us Belle. :)
Belle Yang says:
Hey, Ryoma
I liked that image, too. Bristling with Post-It notes. There is definitley something tactile, solid about the graphic novel pages. When we started working on computers, we lost the real "manu"-script and then lost the typescript.
Some people use the computer to "paste" art work into a comics grid. I think it's great that much of the work can be done with the machine, but in the end, you don't have a "real" page, which you can hold in your hands.
jitu rajgor says:
new
Hey Belle,
congratulations, graphics are excellent. I know it will be come out as the best. And yes, I will go with ivory, you are looking gorgeous.
jitu
Belle Yang says:
Let us know about the comics
or graphic novels in your part of the world. I will be sure to check your posts, Jitu.
Ellen R. Sheeley says:
I think you will not only
I think you will not only live up to their expectations, but exceed them.
Congratulations, Belle! And I agree with Ivory. . .you look divine in that photograph.
Belle Yang says:
I am a born worry wart, Ellen.
It only struck me yesterday that at nearly 50, I should have confidence that I am still capable of expanding, bending and learning. I bought this big ol', 24" iMac and the expensive software to go with it. Now, I'll have to learn how to use it.
Ellen, I think those magnificent photographs of yours from Jordan was one of the reasons why I started to read Gibbon. I never realized the the extent of that which remains of their construction. It's odd how the confluence of things I hear, read pull me to certain topics. I am reading the abridged edition and rather wished I'd gotten the complete. Well, there's time. In certain ways, the Roman Empire never fell. We are living it. We are still fighting the Persians, too.
Eric Nichols says:
Hiya Belle: The
Hiya Belle:
The Mac is extremely simple to learn. I got my fambly one a few months ago and they love it.
I'll have to re-read the Decline and Fall again. (I guess that's a redundancy, since I've only read it once. :) They made us read it for some college class...long forgotten....it would be much more fun to read voluntarily. :)
I think the mushroom fertilizer here is more from moose than oxen. :)
Hugs n such,
eric
Ellen R. Sheeley says:
Wow, Belle! I'm so pleased
Wow, Belle! I'm so pleased to learn the photographs inspired you. Seeing the real deals in person is even more awe inspiring.
I am a worry wart, too. If there were an Olympic sport called worrying, I'd be the gold medalist. I had hoped with age this would change. God knows I've tried, but I just haven't conquered it. So I understand that little voice in the head that is always telling you a shoe is about to drop and you better be prepared and, oh my gosh, what if you aren't and on and on it goes.
jitu rajgor says:
NEW
Hi Belle, in my childhood i used to read 'chandamama' published every 15 days in native languages. I am talking of 1968, now it is published in many language. It was not about comics only, I have learnt many Indian/Hindu mythological stories in pictures by it http://www.chandamama.com/story/stories.php?mId=2&cId=4&sbCId=44&stId=12... But most interesting thing you will find that long back in India story telling in live by picture cards was very popular and even a profession of some cast/ tribes http://www.aliak.com/content/patta-chitra-katha-traditional-folk-art-sto... One more, Pithora paintings and murals was famous in those days for story telling or writing some messages http://www.kalamadhyam.org/gallery_murals.htm you will love to see http://mathu-art-adventure.blogspot.com/ I hope you will find it encouraging. I am also a passionate painter, you can see one of my painting in my media gallery. I had also posted a blog ' CRY OF A WOMEN' for that. And yes I remember the days of my early schooling when I used to be late at school because of waiting for newspaper vendor, to be the first reader in my family for 'Rip Kerby' a famous strip comics of those days.
Belle Yang says:
Wow, these are great resources
I found one Indian website with children's story by accident and I had bookmarked it. The first link is even better.
I'll look at everything you've given me,including your painting.
Thank you so much!
J Marc Schmidt says:
This looks terrific
Hi Belle, I'm Marc! From the little that I can see in the photo, I love the artwork. The title, 'Forget Sorrow,' is amazingly positive, which I like as well. I'm looking forward to reading it. Congratulations on finishing it!
Belle Yang says:
Quite a compliment
from one comic book writer/artist to another. Thanks you, Marc.