TWCL

Craig Daley · Joined: 17 Aug 2011 Posts: 121

Alester Crowley shows his power of will and will to power on page 58

You can check out pages 1-57, the cover and inserts, plus the three new pages at http://www.cdgraphicnovels.blogspot,com/ and you can follow CDComics on Twitter @CDGraphicNovels

Bjork · Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 41

how do you make these?

Craig Daley · Joined: 17 Aug 2011 Posts: 121

I just burn them onto cdrom in jpeg and pdf formats and package them like below with a wrap around cover

The Kindle versions, you will need to download a Mobipocket Creator... I've sent a PM with details, hope that helps...

Bjork · Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 41

lol i know how to make cds i was asking how you made the art.

also im sorry man but i already read like a hundred webcomics for free i dunno why i would pay for yours.

vaslittlecrow · Joined: 01 Aug 2005 Posts: 609

Bjork: Because the people who purchase the CDs might actually want to support the artist? I donate to all of my favorite webcomics, even though for they're free. I also buy print and e-books of webcomics I enjoy, even though there are thousands of other titles out there for free. Why? Because I find value in them.

If you don't want to pay for extras, that's your business. Don't knock artists for trying to put food on the table, or for giving services that they're fans might appreciate (such as looking at the comic offline on an older computer, a location without internet access or a slow connection.)

Bjork · Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 41

lol i'm not knocking him being an artist is friggin hard i know i couldn't do it.

but it seems like craig wants people to just give him money when other artists are giving away better art for free i mean yeah hes gonna get a few freinds to feel sorry for him and give him money but hes not gonna put food on the table through donations to use your term.

vaslittlecrow · Joined: 01 Aug 2005 Posts: 609

Bjork: If you know you can't make a living being an artist, why are you giving anyone advice on the subject?

In the arts & entertainment industry as a whole, it's not about how much talent you have. If it were, Ke$ha, Britney Spears, the Wayan brothers and half of the newspaper comic artists out there would not have a career. I am a mediocre singer/dancer and definitely not model material, but being a model and performer was my career for about thirteen years, until I retired. More relevantly, one of the worst drawn comics out there XKCD is also one of the most successful. So how is it possible for an artist with a style that you do not appreciate to succeed? Easy: spend less than you make, niche marketing, publicity and connec with a fan base. The last being the most important, since people tend to support people that they care about. If Craig can do these things, then there's plenty of reason for him to make money.

If you don't think donations can support a career in the webcomics industry, then you haven't been paying attention to webcomics industry trends. In the future, if you have lack the expertise to comment on a subject, then I suggest you either educate yourself, or live with the label of troll.

Thank you for your feedback.

vulpeslibertas · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:25 pm Post subject:

The most important opinion is Craig's fans. If they want to support him, that's all the support he needs.
_________________

Craig Daley · Joined: 17 Aug 2011 Posts: 121

Sorry, I appear to have started a heated debate... but please don't get upset. I am the first to admit the art in my comics isn’t the best. It’s created quickly in order to tell a story, which is what I’m about, I just like telling interesting stories.
But I do have a degree in Visual Arts and in the 90's earned a living for two years working for a UK National Music Magazine called 'Making Music' creating, writing and drawing 'The Jerks' comic strip and producing all their other internal comic book style artwork.
After that I worked for over ten years as an Art, Graphic and Media lecturer teaching at 16+ college level and maybe that was my mistake, I honestly thought you needed some help, so offered it too quickly and I’m sorry if that offended you.
I now run a small Design company, producing corporate giftware and souvenir ware and that does pay my mortgage, so you can earn a living out of art, but you have to be very adaptable, I was designing a logo for a conveyor belt company today.
Doing these comics is my downtime, relaxation and hobby, I’m rubbish at golf! So with these comics I’m primarily a storyteller, I’m an artist all day at work, in fact my next fun downtime project is a traditional novel for that exact reason.
My blog has no advertising, is not moneterised and does not attempt to earn money that way, which I’m not criticising… definitely not criticising...
I am just of a different mindset, maybe it's my age and I'm just old fashioned... but having a cover price works for me and feels like real feedback.
None of my friends are comic book readers, but the CDrom versions have sold in triple figures locally. Readers are buying one of my graphic novels, enjoying it and returning to the comic stores to buy the next and that means more for me personally, like I said, I am old and old fashioned...
But like most creative people, I would like more people to read my stories because I think they are worth reading and like everybody else creating comics, that’s why I’m on this site, but I don’t expect it to pay my mortgage and I’m quite happy running my small Design company.
Hope that sorts this out and hasn’t caused any further upset and that everybody can be happy again…

vaslittlecrow · Joined: 01 Aug 2005 Posts: 609

Craig Daley: It's not your fault that there was a debate and you did nothing wrong, so there's no need to apologize. I should apologize to you for getting into the debate with the other individual. I have a very low tolerance for people who criticize without practical experience or those who act in a troll-like manner, so I get kind of protective and combative with those types. I don't know vulpeslibertas very well, but vulpeslibertas tends to be very kind when interacting with others in the boards and is also protective.

Your work is just fine and your CD is cool idea. I've seen it done at conventions in Minnesota quite a bit and I personally think it's a good way to reach out to the non-webcomics crowd. Have you considered expanding it to using inexpensive USB drives for people without CD-Roms.

As for the art, the only thing I would change is to add tails to the word balloons. You have a amazing grasp of posing, anatomy, and perspective. Honestly that's the hardest part for most artists -- and I rather envy you on that respect.

Keep up the excellent work.

Craig Daley · Joined: 17 Aug 2011 Posts: 121

Only Manhattan, still doesn't have proper speech bubbles, it was my first attempt. I haven't revisted it as I'm more interested in telling the next story.
But the next four comics/graphic novels do have proper speech bubbles and I also dropped comic sans after my third comic, due to some excellent feedback from this website.
I'll have a think about the USB idea, thanks

Craig Daley · Joined: 17 Aug 2011 Posts: 121

Something slightly different, been contacted by bloke from Ireland looking to include short story pieces in a comic... So I've adapted this...

It would appear as four pages apparently, but this is now a stand alone paradox from Manheattan 1930

Bjork · Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Posts: 41

im sorry i didn't mean to cause a fuss i didnt realize you were supposed to pay for comics to support the artist.

uncaringmachine · Joined: 09 Jul 2005 Posts: 617

Some comic creators have subscription services for their comics, some put them online for free, some sell books, and some, like this particular artist, sell cds of their work. If you don't want to read his work, you don't have to support him, but it's there for those who do. No need to insult.
_________________