Creating a Graphic Novel : Art – Food – Photography

Featured artist Queenie is showcasing some of her sequential work from Small Chen (written by Kylie Chen). The story telling is amazing and it has a fantastic flow.

Page 15 – Inks

Page 16 – Inks

Page 17 – Inks

The same 3 pages with the tones completed. The tones add a real depth of the artwork and provides the “cloud” effect and softens a lot of the shadows.

Page 15 – Tones

Page 16 – Tones

Page 17 – Tones

Firstly, thanks for your time. Your artwork is incredible. Can you describe your work process?

I can break it down into 3 main parts.

Tones:
I use Photoshop and Deleter Comic Works for toning. Comicworks is an older program and kinda clunky, but I still use it since its adequate and easy. Other times I just export it to Photoshop and use the Deleter tones there. I try not to overtone my pages these days – toning isn’t meant to be so over-the-top. Probably only “The Dreaming” has crowded tones (this is intentional), but everything I’ve done since then I’ve tried to keep it simple. Sometimes, I don’t even tone the pages – preferring to do cross-hatching instead.

Thanks for the explanation. It’s time to ask you to tell me a little about yourself.

I came to Australia in 1986 when I was 6 years old. I have an older married sister and have a 1 year old niece. I’ve always been into manga as a kid from reading comics and watching various TV Series. Love pop culture especially the story telling aspect.

How did you get into manga?

Actually I completed an Information Systems degree at UNSW first but it was a bad time when I graduated with the dot com bust. Kind of realized I didn’t want to get into IT especially hearing that a lot of jobs were getting outsourced.

So drawing manga was a huge career change?

Yes, I saw an internet notice from Tokyopop. I put together a portfolio and sent it in. Tokyopop then asked for a full proposal. It took four pitches before the haunted school story (which became “The Dreaming”) was accepted.

That’s fantastic!
What was it like working on the Dreaming?

I did everything! From pencils to lettering to shading. It took about 9 months to complete 180 pages.

After the Dreaming, what was your next project?

I was introduced to Dean Koontz by Del Rey to work on Odd Thomas. It was a fun learning experience. Have completed 2 books already but the third book, House of Odd (coming out 30-Mar-12) will probably be the last book of this collaboration.

So what will you be working on after?

I’m currently with with Kylie Chen who did White Tiger on a 6 book series. Kylie approached by directly to work on Small Shen will is a prequel to the series.

Also just finished Twisted Tales with Yunyu. It’s a fairytables come to life idea. It was very interesting mixing art and music. For example the first single Dorothy re-imagines her as a lost cosmonaut.

What are you looking forward to in the future?

Definitely collaborating with more people with new ideas! There’s great value working with others. Would also love to do more storyboards and have been combining more prose into my work.

Collaborations are always great.
However do you have your own story to tell?

Yes I do! It’s really hard to describe the story except to say It’s a huge epic Chinese fantasy story! Would love to see it brought to life in an anime or TV series.

Thanks again for your time!
Would really love to see this epic story of yours one day. All the best in your current and future endeavors.

For more of her work check out Queenie’s Website.