I'm taking a class on the art of creating comic books. I'm focussing on Manga and will be creating an ashcan, a small self-printed comic book. What's interesting to me is that reading comics seems to be affecting the way I visualize and compose layouts.

The visual language of comic pages, much more than the creation of single scene compositions in fine art drawing and painting, are having much more of an effect on the way I see and feel objects in flat space. Strange. Yes, I've read Scott McCloud's books, but reading those books as an intellectual exercise are nothing like playing with layouts of your own comics.

Still struggling with a synopsis for the book I will create. The drawing above is of a recent brush with a rodent in a garbage can. Ah, the joys of city living. The size is a bit exaggerated, obviously. For years, I'd have these ideas about a character I'd like to write a novel for and am thinking of using him as my Manga character. More to come on that.