keegan cassady

Process Apps

art

No no no not paypal.

I’m talking artistic process apps.

These include Fresco from Adobe.

This app has been good to me. For more on it, see my instagram account. I use Fresco there MOST of the time. For more examples, the posts I’ll be putting up every Thursday are built there. But! You like visuals. What is with Fresco, Keegan?

Fiiiine.

A recent creation – Umlaut, for a DnD campaign.

So Fresco is where I started Lightreaper and where I drew the first few panels.

What I love about it –

  • Layers
  • Intuitive Drawing
  • Touchpad like subtraction and zooming

What I hate about it –

  • there are limited features for shapemaking, like for example, tracing a circle versus filling one in (which you can do) which make exact art MUCH harder (maybe I’m missing something)
  • my touchscreen with it is finger-based versus pen based/stylus based so I can’t see it as precisely

That said, I’ve made a ton of art on it.

My next App I’ve used is Figma. I love Figma. Sometimes I don’t know why. But I do love it for gutters, narrative and speech bubbles, and layout planning, and for yeeting my text responsibilities over to James, my writer.

I need to get MUCH more used to Figma before I begin breaking it down, but I will say, it can get cramped by large file sizes/ text.

My third app I’m loving is Krita. It’s pretty great if you keep in mind the pixel counts mentioned by such greats as Jamie McKelvie. There are also a ton of useful posts on using it. I’ve found it cheaper than Adobe and as useful on my Cintiq.

So yeah! Those are my apps of choice. There is a HUGE difference between Fresco and Krita, which I will need to correct for as I move forward. I will say, Krita is not great on mobile, and Fresco is therefore more mobile, as it were, even if Krita is far more accurate and adjustable.

Perspective

art, Plans

So one of my biggest stumbling blocks as I get into comic book crafting is perspective. In other words, tonight for me is a back-to-school night… during the last week of the semester.

Like, I’m fine with figures. I’ve been drawing figures since I was in Kindergarten. But like. Backgrounds. Making them match up with figures and look good, simple, and defined… it’s tough. It’s time consuming. And it’s something I’m sure I’m doing ABSOLUTELY wrong.

This became a major issue for me in a combat scene in a classroom. It’s got some of that great classic comic book action, but it takes place in a very defined space. I think I approached this scene all wrong. Here’s what we’re working with:

A bunch of turtlenecked doodah’s cheering in a circular auditorium.

So let’s look at this. It’s a very steep auditorium. It’s in the round. They’ve got chairs. But then I need to build a combat scene for them, a podium, and a floor chair.

So I make this.

OTT?

Maybe. I want to be able to zoom in, zoom out, and reference a curve that makes a consistent space for a bunch of characters fighting in a large classroom (clearly here deeper than it is wide – it would likely be wider than this in a real class auditorium setting).

Right now my backgrounds look like this.

A little dark – literally, in the world, but also in the mood a bit, I think.

So as you can see, I’m dealing in more abstract terms right now. There’s *some* perspective, and granted, I’m messing like hell with where the viewer is (that bottom middle panel is a bird’s eye view… and my own take on darkened carpet).

So tonight as I revise my last three pages of the first issue, I’m bringing it back to the basics of backgrounds and journeymanning my way through Krita perspective tutorials.

Tonight’s mantra: “there has to be a better way.”

I’m trying this guide now (well into my first issue illustrations)

I’m also going back through these ones:

This is a awesome series with great workarounds and tips 🙂

Anyway, readers, hope you all enjoy! Don’t forget to follow our Newsletter and support our Patreon so you can see some great finished screen backgrounds I’ve been working on!

-Keegan

Resolutions

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Too Long, Didn’t Resolve

I’m writing here with a resolution to be a consistent blogger- specifically, to focus on my work for The Light Reaper Comic. We’ve got a Facebook page here, a newsletter you can follow here, and a Patreon that helps pay me for my art here.

I’m resolving to post on here daily, and to repost from this blog to my Facebook, rather than posting on FB proper. I’ve been inspired by other writers promoting their content on that app, rather than promoting the app with their content.

Here’s my likely writing schedule:

  1. Mondays – Wednesdays – Light Reaper Art Thoughts
  2. Thursdays – Western DnD Art/Gaming Thoughts
  3. Friday – Sundays – Light Reaper Art Thoughts

The Deeper Download

Why this resolution? Why this resolution?

I just got married. It’s a life changing event, and I keep thinking about what about it changes me.

I got there by focusing on one person and that person’s need. So now I’m focusing, bringing things back.

I’m tired of just posting things on Facebook. I’d rather be building a blog.

So here we are again, back on this old blog. I’ve cut the funding on the fancy blog name. That’ll come back when I earn it. And I’ll earn it by being focused, and by cutting my worst bad habit.

To say the least, I’ve been inconsistent.

My last “blog” proper here was a post about Bar None, a podcast I worked on nearly three years ago now. That project exploded into two brilliantly produced seasons, and helped Greg Benson build himself a solid resume for his new career as a podcaster. He’s done great work with that entire experience, including consistent appearances on the Speakeasy podcast, and I’m really proud of him for it.

As for me, I’ve been… all over the place. I’ve had a ton of projects hither and yon, but my biggest focus has been cobbling together education work. That should be complete this November, when I wrap my master’s degree and finally become a licensed teacher in Maryland.

Why that focus? It pays the bills 🙂

But as for my art, it’s been more… scattershot.

I’m an actor… when I get the work, and can afford to take it. That’s been a bit here and there.

I’m an artist… I’ve got some friends who have bought my art, and I’ve put some things up here and there on instagram. I need to be better about putting up samples and stories on that app. It got me linked with The Light Reaper Project, and has helped me sell some art pieces and commissions. But I’ve been inconsistent on there as well.

I’m a writer… I’ve got three Nanowrimo books in the can, one of which I semi-published on a small facebook group. I’m in rewrites for two of those – one on Witches, one on Captain Hook. I’ve written a third one on a haunted house. To give an idea of the rewrite stage – the first book of the witch series has been in rewrites for now…seven years? And the Hook book is coming up on year two of rewrites. Rather than perfect the first witch book, I’ve written its sequel as well (1st draft).

I’m a tabletop game designer… I’ve got a massive world I’ve built for a Western d20 system on Foundry. I create art for it in game tokens. This is the closest thing I’ve got to being consistent about – this and the Light Reaper Comic. The trouble is, I’m not showing to you, world. There’s some great art I’m brewing on these projects, and you don’t know about them! Oy.

So right now, I’m an artist. I’m working in Krita, learning through Youtube, and trying to execute this awesome project. See you all again tomorrow.

Sketchbook’s been reformatted

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Rather than scrolling down, you can now click through a gallery!

We made it to $4k!!!

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Better than a dance, I’ve opened up a link to backers in update #6! Donate today to get access and comment on my google doc of The Immortal Jellyfish!

Only $63 bucks short of an open comment Jellyfish doc!

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Only $63 bucks short of $4k! Help us reach $4k today and we’ll make an open comment google doc of my play, Immortal Jellyfish!

Give or increase $5 to get a .pdf of the play!

Give or increase $10 to get a signed hard copy of the play!

Thank you all so much!

Mead Theatre Program Round II!

art, Theatre Business, Theatrical Process

March 4 is a pretty exciting day.  Nerve wracking, marvelous, exciting, horrifying.  Kind of like an avalanche.  It’s beautiful from far away, but the closer it gets, the more you realize, ‘man, this thing is a huge.’  And then it hits you.

as subtle as

an avalanche. serene. majestic. cataclysmic.

Now, for a while, March 4 meant the end of our Kickstarter.  It still does, but that’s not all it means anymore.

Because as of two days ago, March 4 also meant my interview with the Mead Theatre Lab Program (aaaagh wahoo excitement blaarggh)

The long and short of it is, Jellyfish has a shot at performing at the Mead Theatre Lab’s space for a few weekends next fall, and in order to secure that spot, I have to have made it past round I and II.  So.  Very exciting.  And a little bit scary…

Here’s the deal.  Even if this project takes off at the Mead, I’m going to need $3k to finance it, most of which will go to actors and artists.  So, if you want to see what the big deal is, help me get to $4000 raised on Kickstarter by Saturday at 5:oopm.

photo (2)

If you’ve already donated, thank you!  You’re already helping.  Tell your friends.  Tell your families. Facebook it and twitter it.  Pin our video, what have you.  Because if we can get to $4000 by Saturday, I will make an openly viewable and comment-friendly google doc of the Immortal Jellyfish so you can all see just what is getting me so excited.

 

-K

Less than two weeks left!

Theatre Business, Uncategorized

 

rsz_uncle_sam_-pointing_finger--16963-20111222-7

And $6k to raise. $4k to match our Kickstarter goal. I think we can do it. I think you can do it. I believe in you.

We’ve raised nearly $3.4k so far. That’s enough to fund A Bid to Save the World, and bolster Apotheosis, after online fees.

If we can match our Kickstarter goal, then Bid is funded, and both Apotheosis and Jellyfish get major boosts to their funding.

If we can meet our $10k goal in two weeks, then that’s $1k to Bid, $3k to apotheosis, and $3k to Jellyfish.

Our season will be fully funded by supporters like you. And most of that money will go right back to actors in the DC area.

So again, let’s look at $4k. For actors. For our season. For yourselves. Let’s do this.

10 Great Valentine’s Gifts that Don’t Require Jogging on Friday

art, Theatre Business, Theatrical Process

AAAAAAGGH! Balentine's Jay!

AAAAAAGGH! Balentine’s Jay!

“Oh god god it’s valentine’s day and I didn’t get myself or my significant other a gift!”

and/or…

Game-of-Thrones-Tyrion-Lannister

“Crap. It’s Valentine’s Day, and I don’t want to jog today off tomorrow. Because tomorrow is Friday.  That’s like, weekly Valentine’s day to myself.”

Life is like a box of these. Delicious, and CALORIC.Don't make your loved one/self do this.

Fear not!  Avalanche Theatre Company may have JUST the solution you need.  Like, 10 of them, for all budgets!

1) A Tweet about your loved one/ yourself.

Cost: $10.  Twitter Immortality: Check.

2) A glitzy letter full of sequins!

Cost: $20.  Sexy Letter to Self: Awesome.

3) A Handknit Scarf!

Cost: $50.  Take that, February.  However you pronounce yourself.  My scarf is handknit by the Liz Hansen.

4) An abstract painting.  

Cost: $50.   Nothing says ‘I love you and/or myself’  like abstract art by Liz Hansen.

5) A thirty second video      

Cost: $50.   Except making a monkey dance for all posterity.  Yours truly would be the monkey.

6) A digital image, done up by yours truly.

Cost: $50.   I’m a very good artist.

7) A Poem!

Cost: $50.  Don’t write yourself/ loved one a poem this year.  Let Jon Jon do it.

8) A Short Story!      

Cost: $50.  Genius!  You get to be the 1% inspiration while Jon Jon is the 99% perspiration!

9) Tickets for two!  

Cost: $100.  It’s a date!  To any of our shows.  Or heck, take yourself out to two of them.

10) VIP Passes        

Cost: $500.  You make it rain, Valentine style.  Impress that significant other of yours.  And/or yourself.

Plus, they all help support an awesome new theatre company.  And look at that, none of these require you to jog on Friday.  Treat Yourself Here.

Rumble Rumble.

-K

Over Three Thousand!

Theatre Business, Theatrical Process

Lookout, world! We’ve raised over 3000 dollars for Avalanche Theatre Company’s first full season, ‘What is Living Without…’

That’s $1000 per show! Thank you so much to everyone who has helped so far!

Most of our show budgets go to help pay out actors. What better way to say ‘happy Valentina’s day’ to an actor you know and love than by donating to a company that focuses on actors?

Share this post to encourage your friends to support us! Find out more at our kickstarter!.