If stones could speak

check this out

2010-12-09T20:44:00.003Z

Neil Colquhoun, is a Scottish storyteller, creator of 'Frank', he is a dreamer, night owl, tea-drinker and writer of hybrid horror/ thriller/ sci-fi tales . Frank is a short free novella now in podcast/ audio-book format.

Frank, a mysterious bounty hunter gets more than he bargained for in his latest assignment. Becoming mixed up in the beginnings of a gang war, he has to contend with a team of hit-men, who are not like your
usual guns-for-hire!
It’s a story about a a bounty hunter, a dead-but-alive hitman partnered with an alive-but-should-be-dead criminal, an escort girl, a man who has a taste for something bad… and the Devil!

Check out the promo by clicking here

For all 7 parts go to his site at http://neilcolquhoun.com/ and don't forget to comment and let him know what you think.

Tales of the.........

2010-08-08T17:06:00.000+01:00

I've just had a story put up on the tales of the website, its called ' the briefest of smiles' make sure to check it out and let me know what you's think, just click the image below to go to it........

update

2010-08-04T18:07:00.000+01:00

Just letting you's know i got my own blog going now, just click the pic above to go to it..........

A wee panel.......

2010-07-16T22:57:00.000+01:00

Can't post anymore full pages cause they would be spoilerific, so heres two of my favourite "normal" panels, normal?? what could he mean........ you'll have to read it!!

If any of you's dont know about it yet, Theres a website for artists, writers, and all forms of creative types "Tales of the.." all the contributors are from northern ireland, and they have themes and people send in their stuff and they post a new one every sunday. At the minute their doing zombies, and theres some amazing stuff up on it, check it out. And if any of yous are up for contributing just send Stephen Downey or Andrew Croskery and email, there details are up on the site.

Page 4

2010-06-26T16:38:00.000+01:00

This is page flour, I'm currently colouring page four, its a long process but pays off in the end. A update on the publishing side of things, on thursday myself, Joe and John had a nicely informal meeting with Yes publications, and they said.......Yes!! Woohoo. I've been buzzing away about it since then. So as we get information we'll be sure to let you's know. Keep her country! Gio

2010-06-21T20:36:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone, I,m back from the trenches. Been a bit busy since the 2D Festival, I've been working on my story. I'm posting the artwork for page 6 and 7. By the way, I've organised a meeting with Yes Publications on Wednesday 23/6/10. Its just an initial meeting to see if they are interested in publishing the book. I'll let everyone know how I got on

2010-06-21T20:33:00.000+01:00

Finally taught to use internet

2010-06-19T15:34:00.000+01:00

Finished?

2010-06-08T13:58:00.002+01:00

Its taken a while, but I've produced the final drafts of the text, and I'm not going back to re, re, re, re-write them, because at this point my obsession with getting it perfect is probably going to ensure that it doesn't turn out that way at all. I was going to post a .pdf of one of the pages, as there's nothing on it that spoils the story, but it doesn't seem to work. I'll try fixing it, but no idea how to do it. I believe that in the only other post I've made I promised to put something up, so I may try my hand at writing a fictional timeline over the week to fill the gap between the present and Monday 1st of September 2166 (It took me hours to work out the days the dates would fall on). So something like that to come between writing a short story and having a go at writing a Future Shocks.

The morning after........

2010-06-06T14:32:00.000+01:00

........the 2D before

So yesterday we were at the 2D festival, and it was great, really enjoyable. Was quite pleased with how I got on with sketching on the day, was a bit nervous at the start, but then there was a girl came over looking for a Harlequinn sketch. When I handed it to her, she got so excited she made me buzz - all the nerves went. Really raging I never took my camera with me to get pics of the sketches, but hey what can you do, I just have to remeber next time.

It was really good to actually see the amount of people who had a real interest in the book, everyone loved the idea of stories with a hometown backdrop and comic style stories. Meet some really nice people, and some great professional artists- and a wee mad man by the name of charlie, I think he was addicted to sketches!! Like a paper crack head!! The Blogs of some of the guys we meet over the weekend have been added on the blog roll to the left there you'll probably want to check out.

There was a fella came to table looking for Joes email address, and I told him to check the blog and ill put up all our contact details, so I just wanted to know if any of you's don't me to put up your details.

Cover Panel

2010-06-01T17:54:00.002+01:00

Doc Hazzard & Bulldog jumping off an exploding building!

edited.......

2010-05-21T22:25:00.000+01:00

done a few adjustments with the bottom panel and just wanted to see if yous think its better or not.......

Page 3

2010-05-19T23:45:00.002+01:00

Page 4

2010-05-19T00:49:00.002+01:00

This is page 4 ,page 3 is still under construction.

'Bout time!!

2010-05-11T17:38:00.001+01:00

These are my first two pages, not coloured yet.

Page 2 Colour

2010-05-10T21:28:00.000+01:00

What up folks been awhile since I posted- we all seem to be saying that- was flat out getting all the line art finished. Heres page 2 in colour, haven't got the text file handy so no words, you'll have to guess whats being said!

2010-05-06T18:39:00.001+01:00

Here's the frist page of my story soulhunter im very happy with the way this page turned out so let me know what you think.

2010-04-29T18:11:00.001+01:00

I was kinda proud of the way this scene of the Cathedral gate turned out. I only sketched in a few ink guidelines. The rest was done digitally.

2010-04-28T18:37:00.001+01:00

And here is the finish peace let me know what you think boys likeing the way this turned out myself lol.

2010-04-28T18:32:00.002+01:00

I havnt posted in a while flat out on the book so i thought i would put this up. Going by what gio said before that he likes to see the start and finish of peaces heres the start.

2010-04-24T14:05:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone,

it's been a while, too busy drawing. This is page one of Distant Fields. Ever tried to get a ghost from the Diamond round to the Cathedral?

Teaser

2010-04-04T15:45:00.000+01:00

Whats the craic folks, been over a week since I got anything up, its been full on flat to the mat on this end!! Had to get a break from the line art for a while though, so I've been doing a a bit of colouring, lucky me hi, Holly's been doing he flats for me! So heres the first two panels, in full colour, let me know what you's think cause im always looking for advice on the colouring- why can't life be black and white, with the occasional splash of grey?!

A wee 2D update aswell- was chatting with Dave the other day and he was telling me that John Wagner is coming-buzzing! He wrote "History of Violence" which I fracking love! But hes done loads- enter copy and paste haha- John Wagner is a comics writer who was born in Pennsylvania in 1949 and moved to Scotland as a boy. Alongside Pat Mills, Wagner was responsible for revitalising British boys' comics in the 1970s, and has continued to be a leading light in British comics ever since. He is best known for his work on 2000 AD, for which he created Judge Dredd. He is noted for his taut, violent thrillers and his black humour

Blog layout

2010-03-28T22:53:00.000+01:00

Do you like the new look? Let me know in the comments........

2010-03-25T18:57:00.001Z

this is another start of a panel going with a different style this time as you can see!! so just want you to tell me what you think.

If Stones Could Speak

2010-03-25T14:44:00.005Z

If stones could speak,

Then London's praise

Should sound for those

Who built this church

and city from the ground

The above quote is taken from the foundation stone in the entrance porch at St. Columb's Cathedral in Derry. They were written in 1633 on the completion of the cathedral. If Stones Could Speak is the title of a project currently being run by Greater Shantallow Community Arts and is funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The project is designed to provide a creative platform for digital art writers and artists in the Derry area. The aim is to create new work in the form of an anthology of short comic book stories that will use the city of Derry (especially the walled city) as a backdrop. The idea is to "work local and think global". The final artwork will be published and will act as a legacy and enhance the CVs of all those involved.

Greater Shantallow Community Arts

Founded in 1999, GSCA is a community arts organisation based in the Outer North area of Derry in Northern ireland that aims to provide direct access to the arts within communities. It aims to enrich lives, promote artists, the arts and to promote cultural activity. www.gscaderry.com

2010-03-24T18:15:00.002Z

This is just somthing else i was working on it comes for another one of my panels thought it would be good to post so here it is tell me what u thing!!

2010-03-24T00:36:00.002Z

I havnt posted in a bit !!!!! So i thought i would get somthing up so here's somthing that i was messing around with it came out of one of my panels i just jazzed it up a bit the colours is not great just done it in a few mins but i think i looks ok.

Meet the characters!

2010-03-21T18:54:00.001Z

What happening people, lack of posts this week that's going to have to blamed on Paddy's day!, or in my case me birthday-woohoo! Yip getting old now, 24, by cheesus I don't have long left on this mortal coil!! I was going to post this in full colour, I actually got the flat colouring done, but I couldn't do it, I decided when we started this project that I was going to get me line art completed for all the pages before I started colouring-so your only getting the black and whites!

In several of the posts you will have already come across most of the characters, there five of them,(from the left) The mother, Taghde the homeless alcoholic, Olamh the cop, Aibhle the party goer, then the unnamed one. This shot is the first time you see them together in a sense, and is the only facial shots in the story. Not that their faces fall off or anything its just theres alot going on in the story, so no time for close ups. So I hope you's like, I fracking do!!!

p.s, Bridgeen from the ol 2d collective is working on the elephant words website, it a group of artist and writers that start stories, then their carried on by someone else, then once a week they add a picture or illustration, click here to see her contributions.

p.s.s been checking out this great blog recently, its all pros and they pick a charcter each week and do them in their one style and post them one a day, check it out here

BEWARE: Homeless Danny on the loose!!

2010-03-15T19:48:00.000Z

What up peps!! Im a bit pushed for time so the colourings a bit half ass. Was trying to get a shot that was dramatic for when the Hobo removes "something" from inside his jacket, its not actually a knife in the story-oh what a tease- what could it be,hmmmm!

KILLER SMURFS!!!

2010-03-14T20:37:00.004Z

'Bout time I got something up on the blog. These are my two main characters Doc Hazzard and the deminutive Bulldog Brogan being chased by Faeries. Not really a scene from the story more like a cover shot.

Page 3 Panel

2010-03-13T20:05:00.000Z

Here's the two of characters, Solamh and the Un-named, from a panel on page 3, got the pencils finished, or there abouts the day and thought I'd reward meself with a wee photoshop arse around. Was quite please with getting the pencils visible cause there where blue!! Then added some random quick colour.

2010-03-12T18:28:00.000Z

I've previously posted a part of this piece coloured, was just flicking through me files there and see this I thought it would be ok to post it, it wont be used in the book it was just a sorta concept piece if you will.

2010-03-09T20:48:00.002Z

This is the establishing shot for the first panel of Distant Fields. The main character, O Neill, is walking past the war memorial at the Diamond when he sees what he believes to be a student dressed as a soldier from World War 1....

2010-03-07T22:01:00.002Z

Went a little bit mad here!!! This is the demon that the hunter has to find with the help of the ring he is supposed to be lundy but I KNOW..... lundy doesnt look like this the demon has possessed his soul this is the way the hunder see's him everyone else see's him as human. Hope you like it.

Too much work, and no play make kevin, draw some more!!!

2010-03-07T18:46:00.000Z

Hey folks, been flat out this weekend!! Loads of character ref and making backgrounds digitally, and Im' very nearly finished the pencils on page 2 so I took a wee break there, and let loose on manga studio and came up with this, I mite get round to tidying it up at some stage, but i kinda like its roughness!!

2010-03-06T20:05:00.002Z

This is the first background for Distant Fields. I developed this from an atmospheric photo I found of the Diamond on Flickr. I loved the reflections and the light. I did the Guildhall on a separate layer. I lightened the levels to create a sense of distance and lend the scene a little aerial perspective. The light effects on the car were also a gift. I kept the tones very strong in the foreground to further emphasize the sense of depth in the scene. The sky is a graduation from light blue to light ochre. That was also done on a separate layer and sent to back.

Danny- You've been mango-ed!!!

2010-03-05T22:04:00.001Z

For the character of the street bum, alcoholic, known as Tadghe I needed a face that just looked scruffy, and then I realised the scruff bag sitting next to me!! So Danny's been drafted in for his likeness. Just feel like I should say, that I added in the cuts, I didn't slash him up to see what it looks like!! So here's the pencils, the pencils jazzed up (....if you felt the need to do jazz hands as you read that, your perfecty normal ) and then the digitally inked version.

COP

2010-03-05T17:51:00.001Z

There's a cop in our story, this isn't actually him its just a random-er with a bit a crazy quick colouring but I liked it so thought I'd post it up.

Process ( Well attempt)

2010-03-02T18:08:00.001Z

I always really like to see the process's taken by artists to get to there final piece, so I thought i would attempt one myself. Deciding to do this has been quite helpful in itself, which i'll explain why in a mo... this is how i came up with my establishing panel-

The Great thing about doing a story set in your home town is that you dont have to come up scenery, its already there. And i knew that the first thing I wanted to show was the city itself, and so came this little ugly thumbnail!!
I had a good idea already that I wanted to view the cityside from across the water, so i found myself camera in hand over by the train station, but couldnt get the "widescreen" shot that i wanted.........

...got these up by the roundabout at and was then able to make a better rough draft....

Because I hadnt decided to do this process piece until after i finished the final I've inked over the the final pencils....

As I was saying about it helping me, well seeing the inks scanned, I've went a bit too mad with the hatching and it looks messy, especially considering it will be smaller on print it will look even worse. I took 5 minutes literally and through in some colour for definition and it did seem to work but I would really like some opinions lads, so please feel free to rip the back out of it!!

So there it is, maybe an unsuccessful pic but its a process peice none the less, hope I didnt bore you too much.

2010-03-01T21:21:00.001Z

I found this guy on a re-enactment site. There is a God! You couldn't make that face up..

2010-03-01T21:02:00.002Z

This is the side view of the ghost soldier. I like to develop characters in the round. Once I have a character clearly defined I find it much easier to place that character into the various backgrounds. I've given my main character a large moustache and the rank of corporal. These devices give the character more definition and make him easier for the viewer to identify.

2010-02-28T23:50:00.002Z

This is another character for my story this guy has no name he is the angal character that gives the hunter the ring and guides him throught his journys so i hope u like it and as i always say let me know what u think.

2010-02-28T20:52:00.002Z

This is another character sketch one of two brothers. Again the detailing in the uniform was important. This is the initial black and white sketch and will form the multipy layer for the colour version.

2010-02-28T20:47:00.000Z

2010-02-28T20:44:00.002Z

A trench background for Distant Fields, one of the stories from If Stones Could Speak. The scene shows soldier fixing bayonets ready for a charge on the morning of the first day of the Battle of the Somme. This is the final colour version.

2010-02-28T20:37:00.002Z

This is an early colour sketch of the main character from one of the stories to be featured in the forthcoming anthology, If Stones Could Speak. The character is a ghost from the trenches of World War 1. I sourced the reference from a re-emactment website. I thought it was vital to get an accurate details for the uniform, webbing and weapons.

Character ref.

2010-02-28T14:43:00.000Z

Apologises on the low quality of this scan, I was using loads of different mediums on this page and had to scan it in at different values, plus A3 page A4 scanner, always a handling. But anyway, heres some reference pics ive drawn for me own use of getting to know the character, still not getting her perfect from all angles but i'll get there.

Bishops Head

2010-02-26T22:45:00.000Z

After I stuck up that pic on the right, I really liked it and wanted an attempt at manga studio-ing ( thats definately not a word!) it up. So heres the result......

Hello

2010-02-26T19:01:00.002Z

I'm just going to post to say hello, and to thank Gio for setting this up and getting me involved (though Danny's also to blame for that). As Gio knows I finally got the Headline for the first newspaper article - "Murder amidst the ceasefire". I spent ages trying to come up with stuff that was shorter or snappier, but it fits with locale and history of Derry, and it should prove attention grabbing enough. For anyone reading this who doesn't know what I'm doing for the project, I'm putting together a series of newspaper articles that follow a Jack the Ripper-esque killer at work in a future version of Derry, which has become a booming European economic hub, though the walled part of the city has been left to degenerate into slums, much like the whitechapel area of London that the original Jack carried out his gruesome work. At some point I'm going to get round to writing a timeline from nowish to the point at which the story occurs, as I've been putting a fair amount of thought into the backstory of the city, and it deserves to get mentioned somewhere, perhaps a few faux biographies of notable figures in the fictional history, but that'll have to wait until I've perfected the first page - which will hopefully be done by the end of the week.

Colour study

2010-02-23T19:46:00.001Z

The edges of this mite be a bit dodgy cause its the foreground of a bigger pic, some photoshop erasing took place. Really enjoyed colouring this piece, and am quite pleased with the result.

Head-shots

2010-02-22T18:26:00.003Z

This is our main character, he really shouldn't be but hes un-named, I'm using my own likeness. In this piece I'm just trying out the digital inking, plus some dramatic shadows. This is the first thing I've pencilled by hand then inked using manga studio so let me know what yous think as im undecided as to which method ill be using for the final artwork.

Bishops Gate

2010-02-21T22:32:00.002Z

This was a quick inky sketch I done a few weeks back when myself and Danny where firing around ideas for what were going to do, story wise. Doing alot of character stuff at the minute and their mostly on friends, so expected a barrage of head shots shortly!!

Hunter

2010-02-21T20:13:00.001Z

This is the HUNTER..... it might be the way the main character looks in my story when he becomes the hunter not to sure yet just trying it out tell me what u think still coming up with new ideas so he might look completely different by the time im finished.

Hello and welcome!

2010-02-20T23:42:00.000Z

Hey people, Gio here- from ye olde blog of the 2Dcollective- I've been meaning to post some stuff recently on the 2d blog, but everything Im working on is for a new project. So i decided it would probably be a good idea to have a seperate blog to document the creation of the up and coming book-"If stones could speak" (working title). All of the stories are set in the picturesque Walled City of Derry/L'Derry, the home place to all but one of the contributors. The book will display a range of story telling, content and different art work, across the six stories.Hopefully over the next few days we'll be joined by the other contributors and hopefully some followers too.

I'll be posting some of my preliminary character studies tomorrow so stay tuned, and if you come across this blog and like it, why not follow it (just to your right there) and sure go on, tell yours friends as well!

Oh, and please comment, critism is always appreciated.