The Right Paper

Posted by admin on Jan 29, 2010 in eComic Lesson, Podcasts, WANTED HERO | 2 comments

Paper is the most important supply an artist uses. You can have the best ink in the world, but if you have a pitted, coarse paper, that valuable ink will run every which way and cause all sorts of chaos in your creation heaven. This should not be tolerated.

Over the years I have spent thousands of dollars on paper alone, and I’m here to tell you, if you want to create a good work of art—comic book or not, you need the right paper and you should get it from the right source. Many claim to have the paper you need, but most still contain acid in the fibers, which will turn your creations yellow after a time or even from simple exposure to sunlight.

I have found the very best paper source and at the most remarkable price too.

I buy all my paper at Comic Art Supplies.

Just to prove how popular these folks are, we found an old religious revival in Clockworks City, preaching about paper to the congregation of artists!

Have a listen…

The BEST software program for making eComics!

Posted by admin on Jan 28, 2010 in eComic Lesson, Work | 0 comments

I bet you’re thinking you know what program we’re going to talk about….

Adobe Illustrator? Nope.

Adobe Photoshop? Not on yer life.

Adobe InDesign? Hehe…not even close.

In fact, it’s not even an Adobe product at all.

This is a program that’s considered the workhorse in my arsenal when it comes to eComic production.

It assists in the creation of the eComic, the development of promotional material, web content, optimizes all artwork, and can perform all the needed functions many artist rely on Photoshop for.

What is it?

PhotoImpact Pro

This single program is a lifesaver when it came to the creation of WANTED:HERO. It performs effect art, such as beveled edges, visual effect, word manipulation, panting effects….not with layers (though it has that as well), all with the click of a button. No more working with Photoshop for 20 minutes on an effect, when you can click a button to get the same results and move on. The current version as of this article is version 13;

PhotoImpact® Pro 13 is the ideal choice for digital photography, creative design and web graphics – all in one powerful suite. You’ll get everything you need to organize, edit, manage, and share digital photos – and so much more!

Whether you’re new to digital photography or a seasoned professional, you’ll appreciate the award-winning power and flexibility of PhotoImpact Pro. It not only delivers state-of-the-art image editing and high-end photo filters for enthusiasts, but it also caters to first-time users with an improved Basic Mode plus more than 1,500 photorealistic scrapbook embellishments. PhotoImpact Pro offers dozens of other new features including RAW File Support, White Balance Correction, and the revolutionary SmartRemove Scene Compositor to create a perfect image by combining the best elements of several photos.

Yes, I have Photoshop as well and yes I use it. I get plenty of people wanting to go rounds about the power of the program and how it’s the best on the planet for…whatever. I’m not arguing the validity of any program. I love Photoshop. I just found PhotoImpact far easier to learn, easier to follow, cheaper to buy and it did everything I needed in less than 1/3 the time without having to know the tricks of the trade. It’s just my opinion, and well worth investigating.

Take a moment and check out this remarkable program. Not only is it amazing, it’s very affordable.

So now you know.

Security: Giving a Child ‘Structure’

Posted by Jaime Buckley on Jan 27, 2010 in Fatherhood, Jaime Journal, Parenting, Rights of a Child | 0 comments

Since my oldest was born, Ditto, who’s now 18, we had a bed time ritual and lights out of 7:00pm. That meant after dinner we would get the little ones cleaned up, into the PJ’s and then settle down for a bed time story, sometimes two, where they could cuddle on mom and dad’s bed and have time directed to their entertainment. Hugs and kisses after that as we tucked them into bed.

Now, I never had that when I was growing up. Kathi on the other hand, talks about how her mother tucked her in up until she was 16 years old. Not the stories, but coming in and checking on her, sitting on her bedside and telling Kathi she was loved. I thought that was a bit strange the first time she told me, but then I sat back and looked at both of us. A quick glance over our personalities created an instant desire to follow in my mother-in-laws footsteps.

Over the years we had variations which included a couple years where I would spend almost an hour each night acting out stories by candle light or singing them songs (not me, heaven forbid—Kathi), but always sticking to the schedule of the 7:00pm ritual.

Over the past couple of years we have not kept that schedule and it has shown. Simon and Carley have become unruly, the older children quickly took liberties which were not theirs and suddenly mom and dad lost every second of their ‘down time’ to recuperate before the daily challenges would start again. Anyone with more than on child knows they need to have their batteries replenished with other adults each day to deal with the world of Sesame Street.

Yet it’s not just for the parents that these rituals should be initiated. It’s for the mental and emotional structure of our children. It happens to be something they can count on. Something to bring comfort when the world simply throws you about. Think of it as a nap schedule for the babies. You know a child needs a nap in the day. They all do at some time in their infant stage, or their systems get too taxed. So you lay them down and that miniature troll miraculously becomes an angel once more, once that nap quota has been filled. Needless to say we are back on schedule with not only Carley and Simon, but also with Jami Taylor and Ethany, both a tad older, but also in need of mom and dad time.

Harmony in the home is established once more.

Now what about our teenagers?

Same rule applies. All youth, so long as they are under your care and under your roof, need structure. Something they can count on until they can create structure for themselves. What some tend to miss, is that law and order (in this case it becomes the rules of your family) establish peace and create an environment of structure needed for freedom of thought, action and happiness. It helps youth know their bounds and to reenforce their responsibilities, keeping them accountable—which is what todays society seriously lacks, IMO.

Structure helps a child develop his/her mental faculties and reasoning abilities. Their discernment between right and wrong, acceptable behavior and not as well as embedding your own parental expectations for them as your children. These should all be measured out in love, patience and encouragement.

Google Yourself

Posted by Jaime Buckley on Jan 27, 2010 in Work | 0 comments

I met with a potential client last night and they asked if I knew much about the internet. Well, I have been around for a little while, mainly since I started Wanted Hero (learned from scratch). But to have some fun, I decided to Google myself (kinda like making muscles in the mirror first thing in the morning in your underwear….not that I do such things) with him sitting right there.

“Jaime Buckley” is not, I found, an uncommon name. I got 453,000 results. However, the fun part was we had to get to page 7 before anyone else but me came up in the results (only 2 on page 7, the rest were mine), and I had a firm sanding in every page up to #16.

I seem to be battling now because of a movie (Hero Wanted), but it was eventually going to happen. I’ll just keep plugging away and build up readership again. =) It was fun to look myself up on Google and to see such good results.

When Something Funny Just Becomes a Joke.

Posted by Jaime Buckley on Jan 27, 2010 in Friends, Jaime Journal | 7 comments

When you’re a creative person and live within a semi-close knit community, there are times when you find yourself at odds. Not always out of choice mind you, but out of a natural set of circumstances that automatically alienate you from time to time. I bring this up regarding humor in my own case. I’m not trying to be difficult…but I think certain things are simply funny.

Personally I’m known (at least I think I’m known) as an open, honest personal concerning the way I think and feel. I wear my life on my sleeve–and where that makes many people uncomfortable, those I associate with closest find great comfort in knowing my mind as I think it. No hidden agenda and all that.

My humor has some extremes. I’m aware of this, but I’m not light minded…I’m light hearted. I just don’t have a problem laughing at myself. I mean…have you looked at me? It’s funny! Though I’m told I have a rather cute waddle.

Anyway, my point is, I had a circumstance with my cartoons that cemented the realization that no matter what Ido, no matter how hard I try, someone’s going to pee on the campfire. Happens every time. Someone is not going to like my story, not like a cartoon, SOMETHING. Yet I was shocked at myself, because I didn’t care in the least. I knew it was coming, and it served nothing except the confirmation. I just sat there and smiled as a good friend tore through my comics and questioned the humor as being inappropriate when everyone else I had shown them to (I do mean everyone, BTW) had the exact opposite reaction, laughing their heads off.

Just so happened the sour patch was in charge of the project.

Oh well. Such is life and time to move on to happier, funnier pastures. I was asked to change the jokes. I said no. When asked why, I simply said: “Because when you tweak good humor, it’s no longer funny…it just becomes a joke.”

Security: Associations

Posted by admin on Jan 26, 2010 in Family, Fatherhood, Jaime Journal, Parenting, Rights of a Child | 0 comments

This is a touchy subject for me as a parent, because I feel it’s so important. Some will agree, some won’t and I have met many who simply don’t care.

A child should have good associations. That means having friends that you approve of and have influence in such connections. Can you monitor everything? Not likely. Should you? That’s debatable. The general concept here I want to make, is that your children should have associations that minimize the risk of ‘contamination’.

That’s the word that seems to offend: “contamination”.

Here’s what I specifically mean:
I don’t want my children to be associating with others who influence or boldly take them away from the values, beliefs and structure we teach in our home…until such a time that my children display an ability to reason and work out the matters on their own. From there they can choose for themselves, knowing full well the consequences of making such connections and how it will affect their life.

Now in English:
If your kid cusses, tells dirty jokes about whores and plays with Tarot cards, they won’t be welcome in my home, nor will my kids be hanging out with them. Why? Because I don’t want my kids to be like your kid. Plain and simple.

Am I over protective? I don’t believe so. Tool strict? Most likely, but proud of it, actually. I’ve had a great deal happen to me in my life, especially while growing up, to know that no one is going to actively protect my children but Kathi and I. No one loves them like we do. No one wants the very best for them like we do. No one would sacrifice for them like we do. Thus it stands to reason that no one else should have a say in how they are raised like we do. So if you feel like arguing, zip it.

Children are a lot like water storage. If you have ever stored water over a long period of time, you know to place river rocks under and around the barrels. Why? For the taste. If they are left in dirt, they eventually taste like dirt. It seems water has a perfect memory and hold an impression. So do our kids. How many times does a kid of 3 yrs. old have to hear a swear word before they start repeating it?

So consider the youth who are smoking, drinking, having sex,doing drugs, looking at pornography and actively talking badly about their parents and ask yourself if you’re willing to take the chance with your children associating with those types of personalities.

If you create structure in your child’s associations, always letting them know why you are doing such things, I promise you that a situation will arise that will vindicate your efforts in the eyes of your child. Something will happen that they will see your reasoning and support the work you have done. It’s not always easy to stand firm, but again I promise you…it’s worth every battle.

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Tools of the Trade

Posted by Jaime Buckley on Jan 25, 2010 in eComic Lesson, Podcasts, WANTED HERO | 2 comments

One of the fun aspects of being an artist is using the tools and shaping your new creation, bringing it to life. Going into an art store was one of my favorite places in thew world, walking down the isles looking for the fine brushes, testing ink or shopping for the perfect paper. I could lose myself or hours looking for the right accouterments.

When we were producing Wanted Hero bi-monthly, a series of podcasts were created to help kids understand what they needed to created their own eComics (or other art project they were working on). I was out of town at the time and the Gnomes from Clockworks City were kind enough to fill in when we discussed the ‘Tools of the Trade’.

A heads up: digital information deteriorates over time when it’s not saved regularly. After 2-3 years the quality begins to falter. The actual podcast is old, pulled from our ‘vintage vault’, but the information is still good. Also keep in mind that computer information advances every 6 months…so some of the information in this podcast is good, but better is available, such as the graphics card and WHRN switched to use BLUEHOST Servers (far superior and better service than Ferdiworks.com).

Hope you enjoy and feedback is always appreciated.