enliv

new finn website

2008-12-14T14:08:00.001-05:00

well folks, from now on, please check out the finn comic strip line at the new website www.finncomics.com. see you all there!

- johnny nguyen

deep trench

2008-12-08T00:01:00.001-05:00

wow, finn has been going thru some rough times (as some of you commented to me!). well, this week we finally see finn start to make progress in moving on. and as some of you know, moving on is no easy feat. perhaps if finn had gone in a bit more guarded, he wouldn't have recover from such a deep emotional trench. but then again, in order to have that truly deep relationship, don't you need to let down all your guard, leaving yourelf exposed?

i think i'm getting kinda comfortable with the panels within panels look. just seems to keep to have more action than the breaks in the panels. what do you think?

-johnny
(click to enlarge)

do something

2008-12-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

so, our character finn is still struggling with his recent breakup. and although we each prob deal with it differently, it's probably a proven fact that with time, things get easier. whether that's chilling on the couch watching a friend's marathon with ross and rachel or spending time in the gym working muscles suffering from atrophy, the progression of time seems to having a numbing effect on the memories.

and don't worry, we'll see finn moving on starting next week! enough of this sad sad stuff!

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

self inflicted

2008-11-24T09:14:00.002-05:00

why do we like to torture ourselves? i mean, here we are just suffering through a heart wrenching breakup - and we do things to remind ourselves of how awful we feel! there's prob some sort of psychological diagnosis for that type of behavior and maybe it's therapeutic, but somebody needs to snap him/her out of it. true it hurts, but there's just so much to do in life, like maybe get a playstation 3 and play the hell out of it!

hope you like the dance moves!

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

reminders everywhere

2008-11-17T00:02:00.000-05:00

what's harder than going thru a breakup? well, in the moment, prob nothing much. and undoubtedly, almost everything is a reminder to the way things were. but i'd venture to say teh best way to deal with it is to simplystay busy and let time do its thing. and hopefully, we'll realize things happen for a reason and we're better off for them.

ahhh, the animated tv. gives it more life don't you think?

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

It's a Wash

2008-11-13T20:59:00.002-05:00

Hey guys! I know I've been away for while. And I'm sorry to disappoint my fans...all 3 of them. I kind of fell off the comic strip wagon. But I'm back baby!

This week's strip deals with a topic I'm definitely familiar with: washing the car. And by that I mean FINALLY washing the car. So, our guy Riley is finally getting around to it. What's the occasion? You have to read on my friends!

-Kevin

(click to enlarge)

emotional impact

2008-11-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

breaking up is never fun. and everything about it is so much about perspective. maybe she's not getting enough time. maybe he feels like he's not being appreciated. maybe she doesn't like comic books. maybe she wants 10 kids. they're all valid excuses and the bottom line is that needs and expectations just aren't being met.

hmm, not sure how well i succeeded in drumming up more emotional impact with that darker panel. hopefully you can feel the empathy towards finn.

- johnny
(click to make larger)

tecchnology!

2008-11-03T00:01:00.002-05:00

ahh, how technology infiltrates every part of our lives. and when it comes to relationships, has technology helped or hindered? with so many ways now to communicate and meet people, such as online dating services (match, eharmony, plentyoffish, etc.), have we just become lazy with what we say? instead of saying one sentence that really means something, maybe we really on 5 text messages, instant messaging, and then a phone call to convey what we mean. i think there's a way to maximize the technology to maximize the message - that whoever you're talking to is special.

in terms of artwork, it's all about perspective!

- johnny nguyen
(click to enlarge)

IM

2008-10-27T00:01:00.003-04:00

with the advent of techonology, there's just a slew of ways to communicate with each one offering just the right amount of personal touch. there's text messaging, which lets you communicate without the time investment. there's instant messaging, which is great for updates and joking (or flirting) but not so great for long, deep conversation, which requires reading of tone. and of course, there's the classic, very personal phone call.

i had the dialogue for this week's strip proofread and the reaction i got was, "ehh. but it's genuine." so, i'm gonna have to amp up my comedic skills but at least i got the sentimental parts down pat.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

long distance communication

2008-10-20T00:01:00.002-04:00

i was thinking about long distance relationships and how that would affect the communication. maybe because you're further apart, unable to see each other anytime, there's a need to talk more often. just to make sure you two are in sync. whereas if you're living close geographically to each other, you communicate less and depend more on the actual dates. ehh, just a thought.

this week's strip is my second foray into the sunday comics format. taking a cue from calvin and hobbes, bill watterson had strips where there were basically no text. just the images alone were enough to evoke the reaction he desired. well, i cheated a lil.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

inner voices

2008-10-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

ever get so close to a person you can start hearing their voice inside your head? or maybe you're right next to someone and it's like they're the furthest person away? it's amazing how that dichotomy could exist for the same person, but it's prob what makes it so exciting at the same time. we'll see how finn starts to deal with a long distance relationship.

what do you think about this week's humor? i'll tell you this, as i was discussing the punchline with friends, it gave us a good laugh!

- johnny
(click to blow it up!)

ramifications

2008-10-06T00:01:00.002-04:00

oh no, what will happen between finn and elle?! it's a tough question really, will elle take the job offer and move away? if so, does that mean a long distance relationship? how will finn handle all this? usually a relationship will start off as being long distance and evetually one moves close to the other, so it's not that bad. but going from a close relationship to bein further apart? that could hurt.

in today's strip, trying to use a tactic where i intentionally have a large panel with not much going on to depict the passage of time. the reader's eyes will relax, as if to slow down and give the illusion of more time passing. did it work?

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Book It

2008-10-01T20:55:00.004-04:00

Hey guys! Sorry, I've been away for a while. And by "away" I mean vegetating on the sofa and and totally slacking off. But I'm back with a new strip this week!

Anyway, I recently booked an airline flight for an upcoming vacation. I've got to say that I was surprised by some of the fees. I know times are tough. But geez! The airlines seem to be tacking fees on to everything!

-Kevin
(click to enlarge)

i'll hear what i want to hear!

2008-09-29T00:01:00.000-04:00

assumptions are killer! i've done my share of thinking i know what people are thinking and man, have i been wrong. and the consequences in a romantic relationship could be huge! so, despite what we hear, what we see, sometimes it's best to just simply ask, "hey, what's up?"

this week in artwork, we make small steps, small steps. further use of the eyebrow, playing of the panel layouts and the non-bubble for dialogue. small steps.

- johnny
(click to, well, you know what happens...)

foundation

2008-09-21T23:59:00.002-04:00

i found last week's poll results to be pretty interesting. when asked what's the most aspect to a successful relationship, it was almost a tie between love, trust, and communication. surprisingly sharing a common set of belief didn't get any votes. so i guess as a continuation of last week's strip, in order to deal with jealousy in a healthy way, you just gotta have love, trust, and communication as the foundation.

and continuing my inspriration from calvin & hobbes, played some more with the panel layouts. also, i gave in and used eyebrows. it was so hard sometimes to convey emotions correctly but add in two tiny lines for eyebrows and BAM, instant emotion!

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Picture Perfect

2008-09-18T22:36:00.003-04:00

Picture it, Sicily, 1945...Oh never mind. I was whipping out the old Golden Girls reference, but roughly 2 people would get the joke! So, I'll just cut my losses now. haha. Anyway, this week our guy Riley takes a picture of Rob. But what happens next?

-Kevin
(click to enlarge)

no limits

2008-09-14T17:05:00.003-04:00

within any relationship, there's always a certain level of jealousy. the key i think is to keep at a healthy level of jealousy, when you know both people are that into each other without limiting any freedoms. and of course, there's got to be a strong foundation of trust.

continuing to draw inspiration from calvin and hobbes, i've layed around with the panel layouts. hopefully it adds to the storytelling.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Shake it Up

2008-09-11T19:43:00.003-04:00

I've been enjoying these two or three-strip story arcs. Each time I think I'm getting better at utilizing the sequential stories. The trick is to make it so that the audience can understand the current story without having read the previous one. I think I'm doing a pretty good job of it. Of course, let me know if you think otherwise!

This week's strip continues the story in the sports nutrition store. Our protagonist Riley is still looking at buying a protein shake. But he has a few concerns...

-Kevin
(click to enlarge)

louder than thots

2008-09-05T09:42:00.003-04:00

i've gotten feedback for my strips both way - they're too sappy or they really like the emotional content. this week, we go the way of sappy again. my goal for the Finn comic strips is to make it both humorous and relatable. so, i don't know how many of you do what's stated below, but every so often i get those thoughts in my head and it a question of whether they should truly ever be uttered out loud.

in terms of artwork, i really wanted to portray finn's emotions through body language. so, take away the words, does the first three panels still work with the 4th panel's dialogue?

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Way Good Whey Protein

2008-09-04T20:34:00.003-04:00

I've started hitting the gym more frequently as of late. And by "more frequently" I mean more than once a week! It seems like I end up lumping all my workout sessions into the weekend though. I should really spread it more evenly over the week. Anyways, I've also been using protein powder as part of my regiment. I've always hesitated in the past, because I wanted to make sure there weren't 't some unsavory ingredients in the mix! Anyways, that's a long-winded way of talking about the inspiration for this week's strip. Hopefully, my creativity and my muscles will continue to grow as one! haha! As always, enjoy!!

-Kevin
(click to enlarge)

sunday comic

2008-09-01T11:11:00.003-04:00

picked up a great book this week, Calvin and Hobbes Sunday Pages 1985-1995: An Exhibition Catalogue by Bill Watterson. unlike most calvin and hobbes collections I’ve seen, this one has the original artwork by bill Watterson on the left page, and the finished, colored published piece on the right page. so, it allows you direct comparison between his black and white, with white out errors, to what he envisioned it to be, colored. it also has his inside comments on every strip!

undoubtedly, it inspired me for this week’s strip, to make it a full sunday strip. mine is inspired by july 5, 1987, a sunday strip depicting calvin as spaceman spiff. little tidbits of info I found interesting, the first row are meant to be throwaways by newspaper publishers. i guess some newspapers reserve the right to throw out that first row of panels and thus, your strip has to work even without that first couple panels. and it used to be (still is?) that there were some panel placements that were required by the publisher. that way they could break up the strip to make it fit the newspaper’s format. bill watterson eventually was able to break this requirement, and hence, we’re lucky enough to have some great storytelling and artwork!

hope you enjoy, Johnny
(click to enlarge)

How was the Date?

2008-08-30T14:51:00.004-04:00

Hey guys. I'm little bit late again on the post this week. Sorry. :( Anyways, I'm continuing a bit a of my Olympic storyline. I promise to be back on track next week! As always, enjoy!

-Kevin

(click to enlarge)

guy talk

2008-08-24T12:03:00.003-04:00

so, what do guys talk about when they're just hanging out? besides comic books, battlestar galactica, superhero movies and other manly things, we also talk about our relationships. it's prob one of the first things we ask, "so, how are things going with your girl?" "she hasn't left you yet?" "you know she's too good for you, right?"

i'm liking the perspective changes and this week's strip was condusive to playing around with the angles. hope you like it.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Fired Up

2008-08-22T13:35:00.003-04:00

So, I've been watching a lot of the Olympics over the last 2 weeks. Sadly, it's coming to an end this weekend. But what an awesome display it's been! I've never really been much into swimming, but it's been one of the best part of the Beijing Olympics. If you've been watching it, you understand what I mean. Anyways, I was inspired to write this week's strip (late as it is). Enjoy!

-Kevin
(click to enlarge)

going to the movies

2008-08-16T15:31:00.001-04:00

i absolutely enjoy going to the movies. and usually after the movie, there's the let's-stand-around-and-talk-about-it thing. and that's where you learn how your opinion compares to those of your friends. you find those who are easily pleased and basically like every movie, those who just can't be satisfied, and those who critically analyze them. whichever one you are, hey, i'm just glad you went to the movies!

this week's strip has some new things, such as the overhead perspective and the first panel with kinda no borders.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

The Heat is On

2008-08-14T20:19:00.003-04:00

This week continues the airplane saga of our hero Riley. Cutbacks at the airline are forcing him to suffer through a hot flight. What awaits him? Read on fans!

This is certainly one of the more enjoyable story arcs I've done. I've a lot of fun with the humor in the last few strips. I hope enjoy it as much as I do!

-Kevin
(click to enlarge)

tabu

2008-08-10T15:07:00.003-04:00

like the great weezy says, the best humor is drawn from real life experiences. and undoubtedly, playing board games always leads to some sort of funny comment or situation!

i had a particularly tough time writing the dialogue for this week's strip. the joke works best with a bit more adult theme but i really want to keep this strip and it's content PG rated. hopefully i didn't cross any lines with this week's strip!

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Boarding

2008-08-06T23:51:00.002-04:00

I heard recently that an airline (or airlines, I don't remember which ones) was considering removing the in-flight television/movie equipment to reduce weight. Another consequence of rising fuel prices, of course. So, I thought, what else could they cut back on. That led to last week's strip were we discover that Riley's flight will have no air condition! It's all fiction...at least we hope so.

As for art techniques, I've been playing around with adding more background detail. It'll take some more work for me to get it to where I'm satisfied with it. In the mean time, enjoy!

-Kevin

(click to enlarge)

frustrating day

2008-08-03T17:34:00.003-04:00

everybody has frustrating days, when nothing seems to go right. and how do you get over it? well, hopefully there's someone you can turn to to make it just a bit brighter.

couldn't help myself with another agent finn story/artwork. even tried to toss in some black and white effects. enjoy!

-johnny
(click to enlarge)

Airplane

2008-07-31T20:58:00.003-04:00

I think most people enjoy travelling. I certainly like it. I guess it depends on what the occasion is, though. Vacation is always a good time (unless family is involved, ha!). Business travel can be fun too. In any case, the part that's usually roughest is travelling itself. Especially these days, airplane travel can be more and more...interesting.

-Kevin

(click to enlarge)

rough mission

2008-07-27T12:43:00.003-04:00

ever have them days when it just seems like things aren't going your way. it's as if the world has it out for you and just getting through the next hour is going to be hardest, longest thing. and it's during those moments when we retreat back into our minds and take a minute to indulge in our plight. but if you're lucky, you've got people (partner, friends, family) who can help you snap out of it.

this week's strip continues the alter ego of Secret Agent Finn. i'm really enjoying the more detailed art style while retaining a bit of humor. you got any ideas as to what "missions" you want finn to go on?! thanks as always for reading.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

First Day

2008-07-24T23:10:00.006-04:00

This week, I continue with story arc I started a couple strips back. Riley has come back from his venture into the gym and it was a rough one!

I'm getting more comfortable with the art style. But I still haven't quite perfected it yet. That being said, I made a minor mistake on proportionalities. I guess that's what happens when you rush to complete it!

-Kevin

(click to enlarge)

good friends pt 2

2008-07-20T16:41:00.002-04:00

who would we be without our friends to back us up. but i'm sure, in good humor, they also talk about you when you're not around. and obviously, good friends should be able to say whatever they think about you in front of you too. so, maybe here's a conversation that could happen to finn whether he was there are not. good friends.

hmm, does the character with his back towards the audience do anything for you? i don't think i'm using that technique properly...

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Fee for All

2008-07-17T22:42:00.006-04:00

It seems like there are fees for EVERYTHING! Concert fees, academic fees, gym membership fees, etc. And that's on TOP of the actual "price." Do you ever wonder what all those fees are really for? Sometimes they tell you what it's for, but it really doesn't tell you anything.

This week's strip continues a story started last week where Riley has decided to get in shape. He joins a gym! Or at least he's trying to...

-Kevin
(click to enlarge)

introducing the secret agent

2008-07-13T22:20:00.002-04:00

i'm not sure about the general populace, but i tend to let my imagination run sometimes. i might envision myself as some sort of secret agent or superhero, or whatever. the point is, well, i guess there's no point. it's just fun and why not.

this week introduces a new art style, a bit more real and detailed. it's supposed to let the audience know they're in a different state of mind. hope you enjoy it!

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Out of Shape

2008-07-09T14:40:00.004-04:00

Lately, I've been feeling like I've been slacking off in the exercise department. I keep poking my muscles to see if they've gotten flat yet! It's so easy to slack off once you get out of rhythm. Sometimes you just need a friend to motivate you to get back into the gym!

-Kevin

(click to enlarge)

is it a good gift?

2008-07-06T19:18:00.004-04:00

so, how do you know if you gave a good gift? consensus says by noticing how often they use it, or in the case of apparel, how often they wear it. so what happens if you get a crappy gift? well, for girls, they have the option to dress in layers, which means that shirt you gave her just became an undershirt (that no one can see). for a guy, well, we "accidentally" stain our shirts all the time! of course, somewhere in the relationship, honesty becomes the best course of action. :)

this week's strip features the return of the window glare (ooohhhh), and dialogue across panels. hopefully it's easy enough to read. feedback always appreciated!

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

The Letter

2008-07-02T22:59:00.002-04:00

I kind of like these continuing story lines. In previous stories, I felt sort of trapped in trying to keep the story going and then wrapping it up. I think I'm getting a better feel for how to do them.

I'm still rocking the black and white! I may hit up the colors soon again though. In the meantime, enjoy!

-Kevin

(click to enlarge)

a present

2008-06-29T13:47:00.004-04:00

even though we all know being materialistic is not a good thing, i know getting presents feels pretty darn good (even though it's the lowest of my love languages). i also find it a bit interesting what the present is, because it's probably a reflection of what that person thinks of you! (hmm, wait a sec, i always get cologne for christmas!) then again, the art of giving a gift is pretty hard sometimes - what if you don't know the person that well, if they're hard to satisfy, and what's the price range. in the end, if it's heartfelt, you almost can't go wrong.

a bit of an inside joke, finn finally gets the right shirt.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

The Follow Up

2008-06-25T22:22:00.006-04:00

I'm sure I don't need to tell you that dating isn't easy. "Does she like me?" "Will she return my phone call?" "Is she going to knee me in the groin?" These are questions that a man has to ask. After you meet a potential mate, the kind of follow up that occurs will determine if it's "go" or "no go."

In this strip I use my first thought bubble! Sometimes I forget that I CAN depict internal dialogue. After all, some of the funniest things are internal thoughts.

-Kevin
(click to enlarge)

direct reflection

2008-06-22T16:28:00.004-04:00

i've been to a couple weddings this year already and some other formal events. what i've noticed is that your date is such a direct reflection on you too. so, the question comes, what would your date have to do to really embarrass you in front of all these people?!

this strip works on facial expressions for finn. i like the look of the characters being so simple with just little eyes, but the drawback is that without eyebrows the white of the eyes, it limits the amount of expressions.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Words of wisdom

2008-06-19T21:16:00.003-04:00

Every now and then, when I give advice, I find myself repeating familiar things. "Keep thinking positive," "It'll be alright," "Just keep pushing forward..." Then, I have to remind myself to not just dish out the same old phrases over and over! After all, advice should be personal and particular to each situation.

I find that with each strip I get more comfortable with drawing the characters. While there's nothing new and earth shattering in terms of art technique in this strip, hopefully, the improvement in artistic style has become evident over the last few strips. Enjoy!

-Kevin
(click to enlarge)

friendly feedback

2008-06-15T18:22:00.003-04:00

ever look back on how things are going and kinda realize how time got away from you? and before you know it, the things you wanted to do ends up never getting done? priorities is a hard thing to juggle. concentrate too much on one and other people may get neglected. that's why honest feedback is so darn crucial.

this strip i think rounds up the scheduling/priorities story arc. for the past few weeks, i've been trying to explore that issue to i'm not sure how much success. as much as i love story and character development, i'll def have to intermingle some more straight humor. thanks for readin.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

car technology

2008-06-11T17:30:00.002-04:00

chibar has been a little busy globe trotting and he's asked me to sit in for him this week, posting a comic. but have no fear, he'll be back next week thursday with a brand new strip.

recently i've been astounded by the technology in cars nowadays. now, i've got a relatively recent car i think with some cool gadgets, but apparently, the car industry has taken some leap and bounds. i don't know a thing about engines, but if the car starts responding to your voice and you don't even need a key to start the ignition, that's pretty darn cool.

in terms of artwork, i got trees and a window glare? hey, it's something! hope you enjoy.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

appreciate

2008-06-08T19:58:00.003-04:00

for me, sometimes life just gets too busy. and after all the prioritizing, it still seems like not enough. but i find that "inadequate" feeling gets swept away so quickly with the simple feeling of being appreciated.

one of my fav strips thus far involves the bedroom scene, and no, not because of the obvious reasons. i really like how the striped sheets and the perspective/angle helps the overall mood.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Taking charge

2008-06-03T23:36:00.003-04:00

I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like the "man" pushes me around at work. Sometimes you just want to stand up for yourself and be assertive. It has to be a balance being assertive while not being belligerent. After all, don't forget they still sign the paychecks!

I'm back to the old BW this week. A little bit of travelling tends get in the way of artistic productivity!

-Kevin

(click to enlarge)

priorities

2008-06-01T16:30:00.004-04:00

i think we all know people who manage their priorities great, and those who manage them poorly. so, what's the key difference? it's a pretty tough thing to handle really, with so many things going on in life, how we prioritize things and people directly affects our happiness. not sure how well it's worked for me, but i make my tough decisions by simply asking myself, what would i regret less. should i stay home and relax, or go out for a night on the town? depends on what i would regret more - not having gone out or missing out on some quiet time at home? try it out, let me know if it works for you.

most of my comics involve basically two characters talking about something, and it's the backdrop i try to spice up, to keep you interested. this week's backdrop is perhaps one of the happiest places on earth. ;)

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Crazy People

2008-05-28T22:47:00.004-04:00

Once again, this week's strip takes place in the office. I'm continuing from last week's story line. I spend so much (waaayyy too much) time in the office, that I figure I can pull lots of goodies from that setting! The stress, the politics, oh the horror! Hopefully, it's still makes for interesting stories!

Not too much in the way of new techniques this week. I'm still coloring this week. I'll try to stretch my creative legs a little more next time.

-Kevin

(click to enlarge)

logistics

2008-05-25T17:20:00.003-04:00

the logistics of a relationship- from the beginning, to the middle, and sometimes even the reason why they end. when i stop to even think about it, how two grown people can 'mesh' their schedules for the sake of a relationship is quite astounding. hopefully during the mesh, each person gains something from it (new experiences) rather than lose out too much.

hate to say, but nothing too much new in the way of art. i played around some with the perspective, kinda turning the camera as you read it. i had to actually because of the way the dialog played out. let me know if you were able to follow it or if it was confusing what's going on.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

The office

2008-05-21T22:35:00.006-04:00

If you work in a cubicle environment, then I think you can appreciate this week's strip. I'm sure you know someone who's seriously overworked (maybe it's you). And you probably know someone who surfs the web all day (heck, maybe that's you). I think it makes for some interesting and hopefully funny story lines.

Once again, I make an attempt at coloring the strip. It turned out okay I think. Let me tell you, what a nightmare it was to pick colors! Anyways, enjoy!

-Kevin

(click to enlarge)

what happened after the date?!

2008-05-18T19:54:00.002-04:00

continuing the dating saga of ace, this week's strip talks about a topic we all come to face sooner or later. as for ace, i'm trying to do some character development. he's clearly a ladies man but there's something deeper, where he's actually looking for a meaningful relationship. but it's a conundrum, because the type of women ace brings home might not be the kind that's able to give him that deeper connection.

- johnny
(click to enlarge)

Measures

2008-05-14T23:13:00.006-04:00

Living with a roommate has its ups and downs. Splitting bills is a plus. Splitting headaches is not. Not that I live with a roommate these days. And I've gotten along well with roommates in the past. But, when it comes to cohabitation, you always have to consider the other person(s). Doing something stupid affects not only you!

This week, I finally return to coloring! Now I remember why I don't do it. It turns out that being color-blind doesn't actually help; how weird. Major to props to Johnny for the assistance! Nothing too elaborate though. Just some basic coloring. Enjoy!

-Kevin
(click to enlarge)

friendly advice

2008-05-11T16:32:00.003-04:00

let's say a friend gives you relationship advice, and it's totally something you would probably not do. ever take the advice anyways, just to see how it goes? can't say that i ever do it, but there's been an occasion or two that i have, and it always turns out unexpected. my challenge to you is take a friend's advice on something, something you normally wouldn't take, and just do it. you might be surprised.

this week's comic is pure digital photoshop, since i was on travel and didn't have access to my regular paper stock. enjoy!

- johnny (click to enlarge)

Charred

2008-05-07T22:28:00.008-04:00

We've all had mishaps in the kitchen. Things don't always come out quite the way you planned it. Maybe it's because you're making a dish for the first time or maybe you just lef t the pop tarts in the toaster just a little too long! This week, I continue on the same storyline from last week. But I think it stands alone if you haven't read the previous week's issue.

I was thinking about coloring this week's strip...but, then I didn't. I sort of fell behind schedule a bit. Then again, I sort of like the black and white effect. I added some contrast this week by adding some heavy shadows. I think it helped to make it less "flat." As always, more to come. Enjoy!

-Kevin

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approaches

2008-05-04T22:04:00.003-04:00

ever have that friend who's approach to dating is just totally foreign to what you think? whatever the approach (not making any judgments here!), it's always interesting how they take in our advice or what they do with it. maybe that's why we love to hear about other people's love life - so we can live vicariously through their experience and hopefully never go thru it ourselves!

in terms of artwork, not much i'm afraid this week except for the stone bar counter top effect and maybe a little tweaking in body language and panel layouts.

feel free to drop some comments for some feedback - i'm always looking for ways to improve, thanks for readin!

- johnny
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Where there's smoke...

2008-04-30T22:36:00.004-04:00

A smoky kitchen and a burnt frying pan is a recipe for humor...or a typical occurrence when guys get the idea to head into the kitchen. Anyways, the following strip is based on a real occurrence and words actually spoken. I will leave names off to protect the innocent! I got a chuckle out of it and I thought I'd turn it into a strip.

Not much new in terms of artistic techniques this week. I've finally managed to get some more time on my hands. So...starting next week, I should have more time to explore!

-Kevin

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OH SNAP!

2008-04-27T20:20:00.003-04:00

if you're anything like my friends, undoubtedly there is a lot of smack talk during anything competitive. maybe there's even a 'friendly' wager, just to spice things up a bit. whatever it takes to get your opponent emotionally into the game - and then crush them with a humiliating defeat. of course, the last time i made a bet and talked smack, i lost horribly.

a couple more variations in artwork this week. i went back to a brush pen for the thicker lines, but then used a finer tip for the background. the idea is thicker lines for objects closer, and thinner lines for objects further away. gives the illusion and all that. what do you think? also, the photoshop wood technique worked pretty good again this week, i think.

- johnny
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collab continued!

2008-04-24T01:10:00.005-04:00

So, this is my contribution from this week's collaboration! My script was written by Wheezy. Thankfully, he gave me some leeway in how I could present it. His idea was based on a strip with no words. I must say that I cheated a bit there in the first panel (or the top part of the first panel, anyway). After I had sketched and inked most of it, I realized that I couldn't quite do it the way I planned. So, I modified it a bit to give you what you see below. Hopefully, I've still stayed true to Wheezy's vision!!

You may have noticed that the way I draw the characters hasn't changed a bit. Pay no attention to that; that's just your eyes playing tricks on you! Nah, I just keep playing around with the style. I haven't quite found that nitch yet. But I'm liking it better and better each time. I didn't experiment so much with new art techniques this week.

-Kevin

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collab!

2008-04-20T11:41:00.004-04:00

this week we're doing another collaboration effort, where we write each other's comic (but we still draw it ourselves). thus, i'll be writing weezy's comic, he'll be writing chibar's, and chibar is writing mine. so, what you'll find below are the usual characters, just with a chibar twist.

it's been said that comic strips are a very personal art form that allows the creator to speak directly with their audience - no editor, no screening, just pure voice. so having another writer be the "voice" of your characters, i find, takes a lot of trust. to stay true to the characters, their speech pattern, and their reaction. to you, the audience, it could be quite confusing, if not done right. all of a sudden, the characters could be doing something you're not expecting and such. but i dare say, chibar has done a fantastic job of interpreting the characters.

perhaps most noteworthy artwork-wise this week, is the wood effect for the bar top. i think it adds a nice touch, and hopefully art-wise, it works well with the style of the comic. i inked it using a pigma micron 01, 0.25 mm line width. i'm thinking though, i liked the look better with fatter lines i got using a brush pen.

- johnny
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Decisions

2008-04-17T00:57:00.004-04:00

Life is full of decisions: what to eat, what to do, what to wear, what to re-wear before washing, etc. It's such an awesome thing to have many options to choose from when faced with a decision point. This week's strip highlights one of my more important decision points.

I've experimented some with backgrounds in this week's strip. I played around with depth by means of cross-hatching. That's right, I'm still doing it old-school! Anyway, in the near future, I'll be able to try out some new techniques after I rediscover sleep. Enjoy!

-Kevin

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has this happened to you?

2008-04-14T00:11:00.006-04:00

as dilbert has taught us, there are countless ways to turn the cubicle/office lifestyle into humorous stories. how to take the tiny nuances of the cubicle/office lifestyle and exaggerate it to a point that almost everyone can identify with it. and chances are, of those jokes, we probably exhibit some of those traits!

for the artwork this week, some minor tweaks and experiments. i experimented with inking using a hunt 102 nib and speedball ink. basically that means i used a calligraphy type pen where i had to dip the head in ink like every 5 seconds to continue inking. i don't think it worked very well for this type of art form as it was too detailed. i also converted the color strip into a black & white strip, to see if it was still as powerful, such as in a daily newspaper. maybe it's too gray, but i think the colored strip packs a lot more punch.

- johnny

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Cheer up

2008-04-09T23:37:00.003-04:00

I'm continuing with the same story arc from the last two strips. I thought I keep the storyline alive for another week. I've been so used to doing stand-alone strips, that I thought doing this would be a good thing.

As for technique, I kind of hurried a bit on this one. Let's just say I'm starting to forget what sleep feels like. I did try to incorporate some depth into the art by doing cross hatching. I think it definitely makes a difference. Anyway, keep looking for continued improvement!

Kevin

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sleeping in

2008-04-06T16:39:00.007-04:00

i remember back in the day when i was in class, how a good friend of mine came into class like 30 minutes late (and it was an afternoon class!). i asked him why he was late, he smiled and said he just couldn't bring himself to get out of bed whenever his girlfriend was there with him. it wouldn't be until later in life that i realized and understood what he meant. and to this day, with the right girl, i wouldn't mind time passing right on by.

as for the artwork this week, as happy as i am how it turned out, i think next week i'm gonna start experimenting with new techniques. i got a book by wheezy and emily, called creative photoshop written by derek lea which i really need to dive into. also, there how to make webcomics, that just came out. i guess what i'm saying is, look for some kick ass artwork, if not, come kick my ass.

- johnny

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Pep Talk

2008-04-02T22:43:00.005-04:00

In today's strip, I make my first attempt at a continuing storyline. I was trying to balance the bridging of two strips while making the new strip standalone in its own right. In other words, I want the reader to be able to read this week's strip without having read the previous one and still having it make sense.

I played around more with the word bubbles again. I think I'm getting better at placement and such.

Kevin

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a perfect date

2008-03-26T23:31:00.003-04:00

perhaps a continuation of sorts from chibar's post last thursday, we've all had those dates that seemed perfect. we'll prepare for it, try to anticipate any needs, and hopefully not get too nervous. and on those perfect dates, things just seem to go right and all that nervousness just fades away and it becomes practically effortless.

as for the art, still working on the shading technique. not sure if i got it right yet.

- johnny

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bad date

2008-03-26T22:03:00.009-04:00

We've all been there: down in the dumps. And there are many ways to help ourselves get out of the funk. We may write in a diary (ahem...I mean "journal"), we may read a self-help book, we may watch Battlestar Galactica, or we may turn to Oprah among other things. Of all the choices, talking to a close friend surely ranks near the top. But as good as it is to talk to a friend who provides sage advice, it is sometimes good to talk to someone who's in just a little worse shape than you are. As they say, misery loves company. More so, misery loves someone who's just a little more miserable than you are!!

In this week's strip, I made my second attempt at hand lettering. The hardest part is penciling the guidelines for the letters. I've got to find a better way of doing that. Something else I played with this time is the shapes of the word bubbles. One thing I didn't do well was plan ahead for where to put the bubbles. I ended up kind of squeezing it into a place that would fit the second panel. See for yourself. At any rate, I enjoy hand lettering. I think I'm going to stick with it for a while. We'll see how it turns out. Enjoy!

Kevin

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mondays AND thursdays!

2008-03-23T19:47:00.004-04:00

here we go... new comic strips every monday AND thursday! that's right, twice a week now you're entitled to some of the best comic strips! so, that means after you visit wheezy's site, come visit ours. :)

so on monday, i (johnny) will be your host with new content. this week's strip was inspired from a leadership training class i took, where the instructor was giving a scenario when a co-worker would come into your office, plop down, and then begin to unload all this drama - when you don't care. what do you do...?

- johnny
ps. don't forget to come back on thursday!

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sight vs. WRITE

2008-03-15T13:23:00.010-04:00

continuing our experiment on what's harder to do, delivering a funny comic based mainly on art or on the writing, this week we present you with our writing strip. feel free to leave some comments on what you think, which one you enjoyed more (sight or write), etc. and be sure to check out wheezy's site, who's also partaking in the sight vs. write.

- johnny

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In my strip this week, I've taken my stab at hand lettering. I think it turned out pretty decent. It took FOREVER to do though. But I may try it again next time.

-Kevin

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SIGHT vs. write

2008-03-08T01:26:00.008-05:00

as we intro'd in last week's blog, mr wheezy and ourselves are experimenting with a little something we like to call sight vs. write. this week's comic will be purely visual, with no text or words whatsoever. excited? and next week's will be totally dependent on the writing! please, leave some comments and let us know what you think.

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for my strip this week, i tackle the idea of fitting in (or not). - johnny

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In my strip, I explore one of the downfalls of having too much time on your hands.
-Kevin

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beginnings

2008-03-02T22:45:00.007-05:00

first off, let me start off with an announcement - sight vs. write! what's more important to a comic strip, the art or the writing?? so, next week, in collaboration with Wheezy's strip, all of us will make a comic strip with only art. then the following week, with only words. then you be the judge - what's more important - sight vs. write!

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Today's strip basically reflects how I feel every weekend. I wake up glad it's the weekend and that I don't have to work. Then the notion that I have WAY too much to do around the house comes over me. What's a guy to do, except go back to sleep and ignore everything on my agenda! haha. Hopefully, I start getting more chores done during the weekdays. Anyways, I'm rocking the black & white again this week. I guess I'll start early on the strip next week. If not, I'll just stick with BW and call it vintage!

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in this week's comic, i'm shedding light on something that goes through most guys heads (i think). the nerve wracking yet exciting first kiss. what the girl may not know is all these crazy thoughts start popping in our heads!

and you may notice the lettering is different today. i tried to do some hand lettering (instead of using the computer and typing out the words) but i'm not so sure i'll ever do it again...

- johnny
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good friends

2008-02-24T15:38:00.008-05:00

undoubtedly, one of the most important facets of our lives is who we consider our friends. and if your friends are anything like mine, then you're faced with some great put downs. today's comic strip highlights that kind of interaction.

in today's comic, although very subtle, i've introduced a bit more of layering by shading in the character in a red shirt. i've been listening to a Webcomics Weekly, which is a podcast that dishes out great tips, and one of their tips was to go ahead and put a character with their back towards the reader. supposedly, it draws in the reader right into the conversation more. you be the judge.

- johnny

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When single guy friends are hanging out (i.e. "on the prowl") we need some way of letting each other know which ladies each is interested in. Since we don't go to the restroom together (like females do) we've got to do something on the fly. Like tap twice with the right foot and hop once on the left. Before you know it, you're turning into Lord of the Dance. It can be comical if the guys don't work something proper out ahead of time.

In today's comic, I'm going old school: black & white baby! Either that or I'm just lazy. I'll go with the former until proved otherwise...

-Kevin

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misc drawing

2008-02-22T01:05:00.002-05:00

just some doodles...

- johnny

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overly critical

2008-02-17T16:28:00.004-05:00

undoubtedly, as we begin dating someone, we can be overly critical of them. and as jerry seinfield has taught us, there are practically infinite reasons to dump a person. so, what's the key to not becoming that kind of person? in watching the new ryan reynolds movie, Definitely, Maybe, i think the character shows us how there are multitudes of possibilities if you're just open to it. and yeah, i did see that movie and i'm not afraid to say i enjoyed it too!

today's strip was created entirely digital. i got some great advice from jimmy cheung, superstar comic book artist, that i need to work on my line variation. so hopefully, you'll see some improvements in that department in future strips.

- johnny

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the first encounter

2008-02-10T21:27:00.000-05:00

you know, not many things are as exciting as the first time you're talking to somebody you genuinely have a crush on. sure, you've rehearsed it time and again in your head but somehow when the time comes, the words just seem to come out by themselves. and i have to catch myself cause i'll be saying things off the cuff - and who knows if it's even true! today's strip is about that type of occurrence and one possible scenario.

and a bit about the artwork, this is the first one i've done purely by the wacom tablet. thus, no hand sketches, just pure computer. and it's got some background layouts courtesy of my comic strip mentor, wheezy. thanks.

- johnny

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back by popular demand!

2008-02-03T22:56:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! It's my first post on the site and I'm pretty excited! What you see is my first foray into comic strips. I've always had the notion of doing a strip, but I never really sat down and developed it. Now, that I'm actually dedicating time to doing art work and the comic strip, in particular, it's actually coming along nicely! There are some things about it that I'm not completely happy with. But one of the things I've learned over the last few years is to accept that things aren't always going to turn out perfectly and that it's a learning experience. I know that I will get better as I go along. So, instead of holding on to it until it's "perfect," here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Kevin

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*****
hello! if you're here reading this, i must assume my barrage of propaganda has succeeded and now you're addicted to our site. in any case, thanks for the visit, hope you enjoy.

below is another comic strip from my series showing what may happen when trying to pick up girls at a downtown type scene. the funny part usually is that she doesn't even have a ring on half the time! in any case, this strip was created in my usual method, which is sketching the layout in my book, then drawing and inking by hand, then scanning it and coloring/lettering by computer. i think i'm getting better each time but it's still not as crisp as i'd like it. and there's a balance i'm struggling with between purely computer generated effects and using good 'ole hand drawn stuff. enjoy!

- johnny

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first post!

2008-01-27T17:52:00.000-05:00

well, hello everyone! welcome to our brand new blog site, dedicated to comic art by chibar and myself. our goal is to have new content by every monday morning. inspired by our good friend wheezy, who has his own blogspot with new content every monday as well. so, please, bookmark the page and feel free to spread the link to your friends!

http://enlivcomic.blogspot.com

i've started work on my second comic book (targeted to be 8 pages), and you can see my initial sketch (done via the computer) and the final inked product (done by hand and scanned). it's the first page in the comic and i'm using live models to get down the pose and finer details. i find by using live models, it really helps my drawing have a much more lifelike pose. so, big thanks to neali and oscar.

johnny

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