JATAYU slight update

Slight as in I haven't properly finished it yet but I ought to show the progress anyway. I have redone a few previous pages except for backgrounds still but for now, here's a bit something for this week.

JATAYU

Last week, I said I was working on something different for the time being to prepare a submission for a local comic contest. So far, this week, I've managed to finish the pencilling for all of the 7 pages. Then, recently I've managed to finish inking at least 3 pages. Inserted the dialogues early to test the rather unusual writing I am currently trying.. So far LOOKS okay, unless noted otherwise.

I'll elaborate on the content of the comic later but for now, basically it's a HENSHIN-HERO!

this is the first time I ever tried such a concept so you may point and laugh because huehuehue

To all my viewers and readers,

For the next four weeks, I will embark on the most longest, treacherous race I've ever done so far in my life. (lol so far)

But still, no really, seriously.

Well, to make it easier to understand, let me start from the beginning~

On the 22nd of December, there will be an international comic-con event going down that I've been meaning to go since early semester. Not only that, they're holding a comic competition starting since this month recently till 15th of December, which is the last date of submission. And obviously, I've been trying to participate this competition in any way I can.

Now, the problem is that they've set a specific theme for each age group and for what I can enter is about 'revival'. Not only that, the page limit for submission is only 7 PAGES.

I have no problem with the first part as my current working comic still could suffice to relate to that theme but limiting to only 7 pages is next to impossible. Which is pretty sad because I thought I could've just submitted the 'Liga Prajurit' comic as my contest submission but eh I guess nothing is THAT easy, eh?

So the only solution is to either redraw the comic to FIT that 7 pages OR to start another 7-page one-shot from scratch. I chose the latter as my decision.

So since the beginning of this week, I've been painstakingly created the overall story, character design and concept while having to deal with some serious university stuff.

God wills it that I will succeed in at least participating because getting an entry isn't just to make a name for myself but as a test to if I am capable as I hoped to be able to sell my ideas, to influence and to inspire.

I will try to update weekly just as usual but there'd be most likely be lacking of the usual Liga Prajurit updates because I'd be temporarily working on this 7-page on shot under 4 weeks.. 4 weeks may sound a lot but when you're in university, it probably means only like 2-3 days of free time that I could actually use to produce such work.

So just to inform early that I would not update Liga Prajurit for next week and most likely for the next four weeks. I'll upload the one-shot comic once it is done.

Thank you for continuing to follow my work development and I apologize for anyone who may be hoping for the next comic's updates.

Liga Prajurit 7

The flow of the page is imperfect but for this time, it'll have to do.

focused primarily on experimentation of fonts.

Feel free to point out anything that might help in making this better. Thank you!

A brief learning day with archery

I did say, I'd post stuff I learned and recorded with my sketchbook about malay traditional archery last week so here are stuff that I've experienced (sadly I couldn't remember it all, just what I drew);

Since it was a simple class about introduction for traditional archery, we've been taught of the basics first. How to pull and release the arrow, finding your anchor point, shooting polysterene plates and my personal favourite, facing back from the target, turn and shoot.

What got my attention was how certain people were taught different techniques in order to overcome their problems. For example, on the top left of the sketch shows how a really tall person with very long arms tries to overcome the problem of pulling too far back to the point where the arrow no longer touches the bow, making him difficult to release the arrow. The solution is to bend the arm in such a way that it will help him pull the arrow just as much effort without the problem of the arrow falling off from the bow.

After learning the basics, we then moved on to the second phase, which was my favourite part - Firing while moving. While walking at a constant speed, past the cones and release as many bows as you can before reaching the last cone.

Another thing that caught my eye are girls and aunties shooting arrows. Some of them if not wearing the usual sportswear, would be wearing very casual clothes that I find rather unfitting yet at the same time interesting to see. It's not unfitting that "OH NO YOU SHOULDN'T WEAR THAT", it was just unexpectedly interesting. It's just looks new to me that someone like that aunty on the lower left sketch was wearing a silky, large dress to use the bow. Nevertheless, she did very well in the range.

Lastly, we were taught how to string the bow. It was a very interesting sight as I did not imagine it would be THAT complicated. By the captured gestures in the above sketch shows a part of how the bow was strung. Using the right leg and hips to hold and push the bow to bend, while using your left hand to push the other arm of the bow to position to insert the string.

There were careful notes on how sensititve a bow can break very easily - first is that both the right hip and the left hand that are holding both arms of the bow must push with EQUAL force and at the SAME direction. Otherwise, the bow will twist and it will ruin the bow, causing it to no longer work properly.
The string also must be properly waxed and kept straight during the whole process of stringing the bow. If the string is twisted, everytime the bow releases the arrow, it will ruin it as well.

Through the whole course, I've only been only an observer though (lol) BUT still it was plenty fun. I've learned a lot from the teacher who I've been wanting to meet for such a long time. Learning archery itself suddenly also became an interest and I've been thinking of joining the university's archery club to just learn maybe a thing or two every once a week. Hopefully it could become a commitment because I've been choosing either martial arts or traditional archery as a training of self-discipline.

Speaking of which, guess where I've been today;

(Should've added something there but didn't draw as much at that time.)

I've manage to go to a local event on bit of youth sports and stuff and there were scramblers.. SCRAMBLERS EVERYWHERE... Gotta love that engine noise... At that time, they were doing stunts and it was fun to watch. The riders look pretty excited themselves, you can see them through their helmets as they pass by you and I almost felt it was like, "HEY DUDE, YOU'RE SKETCHING THIS?!BRUUUUMMMMM"

I even tried walk-in archery they set up there. Ten bucks for ten arrows. Tried it anyway, might as well since I'm already there.

>pull back
>aim target
>release
>arrow goes OVER and behind the target
>the spectators went wild

"WHOAHOHO NICE SHOT, BRO"

SHUT IT >:'C

ALTHOUGHT it was still great... for the first three shots.. Three as in the only worth noting shots. Others are either outside the rings or complete misses.

I forgot how exhausting it was to even pull the bow. Found out later it was a 26 pound bow. Shouldn't be a problem as I was taught that it was actually a beginner's bow. Still, I don't mind getting back for more, especially after learning the right ways to do it.

Liga Prajurit page 6

Managed to update early this week.

Been doing a lot of stuff including university work and all but I've been able to manage so far and might as well use this free time to update some.

I've done the next page as well but I'd probably upload it this sunday. The next page will be consisting of experimentation by using iconic fonts in a fight scene to test visual impact and readability.

Liga Prajurit 5

Feel free to point out any mistakes by visual technical or writing problems.

For some who may have followed this comic's development may notice that I skipped a page. This is because I find that particular page to be bothersome by visually difficult (proportions, composition and whatnot) and suffers writing problem that got me an artblock or writing block you may add for the whole week. Decided not to stop, I tried skipping it and tried a different approach - skipping it completely.

So I was hoping if anyone who has followed could tell if this is an okay attempt or does it cause more confusion in terms of storyline and such.

I would help to just let me know whether if it it's alright or not.

Thank you!

Suai Kenal Hikmah 2012

Usually I don't upload my sketches especially from my own personal visual diary but since I'm running a blog, I have to make it worth watching.

So, first of all, sorry for the slow update lately. Been busy going places here and there.

Just today, I've just got through a talk or conference on Islamic Malay culture called 'HIKMAH' or Himpunan Kedaulatan Melayu Islam Akhir Zaman'. Basically the talk invites all the hardcore researchers from all over the country to come down and share their knowledge, their thesis and their research on whatever they specialize in to share, inform and just get around and get connected with each other. Although it was just a scaled down event for another of its main event. Scaled down as in it had difficulties to launch its actual event so it was postponed but as for today, it summarizes what's going to have for the main event very soon.

So, there was a lot of explanation and some clarity clearance going on and it was informative for me. It's even harder to try stuff it all down in this one post but I can assure you it was very much worth my life research and expanding my knowledge about my own Malay culture.

I've also done sketches during the talk and during showcases of some malay weapons. I don't take pictures as it became a habit for me to draw and record without a camera. I tend to forget whatever I took with the camera anyway unless if it was for a photo reference for work.

I've managed to get a page done thankfully still by tonight so hopefully, I did not disappoint for those who may be expecting the comic to be up weekly.

Well other than that, I've just recently watched and interviewed a grandmaster at malay traditional archery and horseback archery and will upload pictures taken and sketches done during my whole time with him and his class possibly by next week.

maybe then, I can show a thing or two on how bow strings are attached on a recurve bow that totally blew my mind... probably because I was so new to it and it was the most awesome thing I've ever seen. It's just that fun to see how pros work ;)