Over the past couple of years, I have grown to love podcasts and audiobooks. It's nice to have a form of entertainment which keeps my mind occupied, but leaves my eyes and hands free for drawing.
For those of you interested in learning more about Bushido, the Way of the Samurai, I came across an audio reading of Bushido: The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe.
It's on Librivox, one of my new favorite audio resources. A FREE collection of audiobooks from literature in the public domain. Did I mention it's free?
Anyway, here's a link. Check it out:
http://librivox.org/bushido-the-soul-of-japan-by-inazo-nitobe/
Bushido: The Soul of Japan written by Inazo Nitobe was one of the first books on samurai ethics that was originally written in English for a Western audience, and has been subsequently translated into many other languages (also Japanese). Nitobe found in Bushido, the Way of the Warrior, the sources of the virtues most admired by his people: rectitude, courage, benevolence, politeness, sincerity, honor, loyalty and self-control, and he uses his deep knowledge of Western culture to draw comparisons with Medieval Chivalry, Philosophy, and Christianity.
Peace
-G
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Nothing to See Here...
No really, there's nothing to see here.
I'm a writer, you see, so, short of me showing you scribbled notes, or trying to tell you that the best way to come up with ideas is to read and observe and listen, well... not much to show at the moment, shall we say.
I'm currently working on two ideas for the project, either or both will move forward, dependent on the group liking what I produce and an artist liking it enough to want to put sequential art to my words.
The two ideas are as follows:
Initially the first idea is to, as I presented to Karl, reclaim the Samurai Western back for the East - a Yakisoba Western was how I think I termed it. All very influenced by Leone's influence by Kurosawa. It would also be influenced by Edwin Sherin 70's Western, Valdez is Coming. Basically the idea would be to produce a character so stubborn, so driven by a seemed wrong, so honour bound to right that wrong that nothing, not one thing could stop him. Escalation would be the key.
The second idea is more character driven and set in the Pacific Theater during World War II. It focusses on a grudging admiration of foes set around a POW camp filled with sick and dying workers on the Death Railway. Think Enemy Mine written by E.M. Forster.
Well, those are the high concept pitches as they stand, I'm sure as time moves on, and hopefully with the inclusion of a partner, things will grow, change, alter and develop, and hopefully, soon, there will be more than words to show here.
Jamie Gambell
I'm a writer, you see, so, short of me showing you scribbled notes, or trying to tell you that the best way to come up with ideas is to read and observe and listen, well... not much to show at the moment, shall we say.
I'm currently working on two ideas for the project, either or both will move forward, dependent on the group liking what I produce and an artist liking it enough to want to put sequential art to my words.
The two ideas are as follows:
Initially the first idea is to, as I presented to Karl, reclaim the Samurai Western back for the East - a Yakisoba Western was how I think I termed it. All very influenced by Leone's influence by Kurosawa. It would also be influenced by Edwin Sherin 70's Western, Valdez is Coming. Basically the idea would be to produce a character so stubborn, so driven by a seemed wrong, so honour bound to right that wrong that nothing, not one thing could stop him. Escalation would be the key.
The second idea is more character driven and set in the Pacific Theater during World War II. It focusses on a grudging admiration of foes set around a POW camp filled with sick and dying workers on the Death Railway. Think Enemy Mine written by E.M. Forster.
Well, those are the high concept pitches as they stand, I'm sure as time moves on, and hopefully with the inclusion of a partner, things will grow, change, alter and develop, and hopefully, soon, there will be more than words to show here.
Jamie Gambell
Monday, December 21, 2009
An Honorable Death: first look
Here is a first look at my contribution to the Samurai project. A traditional piece with a little bit of horror thrown in for good measure.
I will upload some conceptual pieces that I did while working out the details/look of the story.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Nothing like a badass 11 yr old…
…With a katana blade. How did she get a hold of such a thing? You'll have to wait and see.
Watch out, Hit-Girl! She'll chop you up like bacon… Literally!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Concepts SAVED
I originally wanted to do a Samurai story called SAVED. As the project developed I found that some of the ideas were overlapping. Right now I'm on the fence with SAVED. Meanwhile here are a few concept pieces I did for it. Experimenting with style. All of these were drawn directly into the computer with a Cintiq tablet. I used a combination of Art Rage and Photoshop.
Samurai-The Graphic Novel
Samurai-The Graphic Novel is a new comic book anthology that showcases art and stories influenced by Samurai and their code Bushido.
This blog will be a unique behind the scenes look at the process of putting together a graphic novel. From story to design to layout to print. You will be able to follow the concept from start to finish and see first hand what it takes for a group of artists to put together a contemporary graphic novel and market it to the world.
I hope you will return often and see how things are developing.
Karl
Altstaetter
Editor in Chief
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