Graphic Novel - 'The Tinboxed Tiger' Development

This isn't much to show but I have finally begun work on painting my graphic novel!! 'The Tinboxed Tiger'. I am expecting my first painting to take the longest since I will be learning plenty as I go along. The first stage was thumbnailing, the second stage was to prepare the wooden board with emulsion. It is now at the beginning of the third stage - applying the first layers of medium (lining and color). It was as far as I could go amidst one very busy day.

I would like to figure out a way to paint a complete page every day but that might be quite difficult seeing as Eid and new years are around the corner, Gogi Studios is shifting location and there are innumerable 'mandatory' events in between. Good luck to me!

Digital Paint - Coffee

Here's my promised coffee. I had a lot of difficulty with this one and it still doesn't look right.

Gogi Studios Move Out

Gogi Studios (along with my animation division, Gogimation) is finally moving into its new premises. Ever since properly investing in the studios we have wanted to make Gogi Studios a bigger and better place and a place where people want to work, and not have to work.

Tomorrow will mark the first day of emptying the apartment floor from its previous tenants to make way for the studios. In the meantime, enjoy this lonely tequila. I'm going to need coffee pretty soon after all this alcohol...


p.s. scroll down to see photos updated on the 'Seminar At Hunerkada' post.

Foreign Animation Update - 99

Animation is thriving around the world. 'Freej', the highly popular animated TV series produced and directed by Mohammad Harib in the UAE for the entire Arab world was a pleasant discovery for me. I had also been hearing a lot about an up and coming animated series called The 99 - with a concept and name in reference to the 99 names of Allah. My AWN newspaper came in the mail today and wallah - the news about this project has finally reached the general animation audience.

I had heard rumors that Mohammad Harib is not only involved but is the person heading the animation team for this project. However I didn't notice his name anywhere in the article - credit is given to Dr. Naif Al Mutawa. Also, there is no mention of the concept of '99' being derived from the 99 names of Allah. It is not mentioned in this article and probably wisely so. Instead, focus is given on the execution of the concept of 99 'global values' (global values??) in the form of superheroes. Yerks! I hope they do it well.

I can't wait to see glimpses of the animation. It looks like it is being done with a huge budget and support. The comic clearly has connections with artists from Marvel and DC Comics both in the writing aspects and art. According to the article, the comics are distributed widely throughout the Middle East, Indonesia and South Asia. I personally haven't seen anything of the sort, although I have heard people buzzing a bit. The 99 will soon make its debut on millions of water bottles (?) licensed by Nestle Waters. To top this all, the first of six 'The 99' theme parks is due to open in Kuwait early 2009. Man. If only Pakistan had Arab money to invest in something as big as this.

Feel free to add whatever you know or have heard about the 99 in the comments of this post.

You can read the entire article online HERE. The official website for the 99 is HERE.

Painting Digital Alcohol - Further 'Deliberation'

I didn't work on my graphic novel today either. Instead, I fixed up Santa and painted alcoholic beverages.

My First Digital Paint - Santa

I wanted to paint (acrylics and mixed media) the first page of my graphic novel: 'The Tinboxed Tiger' today. Instead I digital painted Santa for a friends friend. I've never really painted before so this is a first for me.

E Card - Last Eid Mubarak

I made this quick little ecard last Eid. I hope I'm able to make something fun for Eid-Ul-Azha (Bakra (Goat) Eid). It's right around the corner and should be theoretically easier to make into a funny cartoon. If anyone else is making ecards, I'd love to see them.