Jolly Hank

Talk Like a Pirate Day

2010-09-19T05:37:00.000-07:00

It's that magical time of year again for all seafarers, buccanneers, freebooters and the like. It be International Talk Like a Pirate Day. To celebrate I made another poster of Captain Amy for the REAL Captain Amy as this is becoming one of my favorite traditions ever.

As for the webcomic, yes it is still on hiatus, but I am working on and coming along well on Chapter 2. Not only am I working on the comic itself, but I am in the midst of building the Jolly Hank its own website to house the comic and its entire universe of pirates, robots and one-eyed cats.

Check back to get updates on how the comic and website are going and as well as preview art and other things pirate/robot related...

Chapter 1 - Pages 16-18

2010-04-25T18:36:00.001-07:00

Some of you might have noticed that I took last week off from posting, so this week I'm coming back with a super-sized posting for the finale of Chapter 1. Three (3) count them THREE (3) pages for your enjoyment this week. Pages 16-18 for those of you keeping score at home.

Now that Chapter 1 is finished, I'm taking a break from "The Jolly Hank" for a little while. I've got some other projects to get to, and need to focus elsewhere for a little bit. But don't worry, before too long, I'll be back posting the next Chapter of Dan and Amy's adventures. Bigger and badder than even this chapter.

Thanks for hanging with me on this Chapter. Check back here and keep tabs on me through Twitter and my Illustration page for other artwork and updates on the Jolly Hank.

My Illustration Blog: http://philrood.blogspot.com

Chapter 1 - Pages 14 & 15(inks)

2010-04-14T16:26:00.000-07:00

This was a fun layout and spread to work on right from the start. Pencilling was fun, figuring out where everything went, and then I got on to inking here. Inking the silhouettes was done with a brush, which is NOT my strongest tool. Still fun to play with and fill in. Once inking was done, I was really happy with it and it was one of those spreads where even though there's a lot of negative empty space, all the elements seemed to work well together.

Check back in Monday for a new post.

Chapter 1 - Pages 14 & 15

2010-04-12T03:52:00.000-07:00

Pages 14 & 15 kick off your work week this week. I was very happy with how this double page spread worked together and formed one big picture that still told a story around it.

There's 2 more weeks of new posts in Chapter 1. After Chapter 1 is done, I will be taking a hiatus from the Jolly Hank for awhile, to work on some other projects that have been pushed aside. It will be back, so check back often.

Also I plan to have inked pages for sale within the week on my etsy store, so keep an eye out for that. Original inked pages from this story will be available.

Thanks for checking in on Amy and Dan and remember to check back on Thursday to see inked versions of these pages.

Chapter 1 - Page 12 & 13 Inks

2010-04-08T02:01:00.000-07:00

Inks for this week's pages. I kept on inking with the nib for most of these pages, though I did use a brush and ink for the silhouette of Dan on page 12 and Microns for some of the finer details

Be sure to check back Monday for new pages. Only a few weeks left for Chapter 1.

Chapter 1 - Pages 12 & 13

2010-04-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

This week we meet Dan, former human, currently inhabiting a robotic keg body. He's based on my brother in law who is a tech guy who's into home brewing, and I think this is how he pictures himself anyway.

Original art from this chapter will be going up for sale soon. I will be selling the original inked pages from this comic on my etsy page. Please check back here to this site for links to that page.

Page 10 & 11 Inks

2010-04-02T15:27:00.000-07:00

Here's Pages 10 & 11 uncolored. I've got them set up as a 2-page spread on this one. I'm a day late on this post, I know, and I'm sorry about that. We've had some technical difficulties involving computer viruses in the past week that hasn't been good for anyone here. Sorry for the tardiness and enjoy the pages.

Check in Monday morning for 2 more new pages. Only a few more weeks until the end of Chapter 1.

Chapter 1 - Pages 10 & 11

2010-03-29T04:02:00.000-07:00

Here we have pages 10-11 of Chapter 1. I feel like these are some of my best so far in terms of visual storytelling. I also feel like I was able to do some interesting things with text on this page, which is something I have trouble keeping in the front of my mind as something to do with my pages. The upside-down word balloon and the hand drawn "splash" sound effect are what I think is some of my most innovative work on this book so far.

Thanks for looking and check back in on Thursday for inked versions of these pages.

Chapter 1-Page 8 & 9

2010-03-22T03:53:00.000-07:00

Pages 8 & 9 this week. More kind of tough perspective on this spread in the last panel. It was pretty tough while I was doing it, but by the time it was done, I was really happy with it, and aside from the panel of Aarrlene "steering" the ship, it's probably my favorite panel in this spread.

Thanks for checking in again this week, and don't forget to check back on Thursday to see inked versions of these pages.

Chapter 1 - Page 6 & 7 Inks

2010-03-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

Inked versions of this week's pages. You can see that on these particular pages, I didn't fill in all the blacks, like the ebony piano keys. I didn't want a true dark black on there, I wanted to be able to tell that there were sides and different shading to them, so I left them empty in the inks and did them in a dark gray when I colored the pages.

Thanks for looking and check in on Monday for new page postings

Chapter 1 - Page 6 & 7

2010-03-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

Here we go with pages 6 & 7 this week. I found a unique challenge on this one in drawing the piano from a few different angles. Tough perspective work and more precise drawings than I'm used to doing. It's the kind of thing that tests my patience and discipline in making sure that I'm drawing everything right instead of just blasting through it. Tough because when I'm putting pencil to paper, I tend to just want to get the ideas out and on paper as fast as I can, before they go away, I guess.

I also think the coloring I did on these pages was some of my best up to this point. Not perfect, but my color choices and the shading I'd done of everything on this spread brought a lot to these panels.

Thanks for reading this week's pages, and don't forget to check in on Thursday to see inked versions of the same pages

Chapter 1-Pages 4 & 5 Inks

2010-03-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

Here's the inks for my latest Jolly Hank pages: page 4 & 5, I'm hoping everyone's enjoying seeing this part of the process. I always enjoy looking at different stages of drawings and seeing exactly what each stage brings to the art. I like these inked pages as stand-alone pieces of art, but seeing them against the final pages, you can see what the color brings to the page.

Thanks for looking.

Chapter 1 - Pages 4 & 5

2010-03-07T16:40:00.000-08:00

This week is pages 4-5 and we get our first look at Aarrlene, the Pirate Cat. This character is based on the real life Amy's real cat by the same name, who has only one eye. Good enough cat, just no depth of field.

Remember to check in Thursday to see inked versions of these pages.

Chapter 1: Pages 2-3 Inks

2010-03-05T01:35:00.000-08:00

Page 2 Inks

Page 3 Inks

I've had a strange week here around Jolly Hank Central, and I just kind of lost track of the days. So this week, you get a Friday posting of inks to end your work week. Apologies to everyone for being a day late this week. Thanks for looking and don't forget to check in Monday morning for 2 new pages.

Chapter 1 - Page 2 & 3

2010-02-28T19:41:00.001-08:00

Kicking off the week with new pages with page 2 & 3 this week. It's a simple spread text-wise where I'm just wanting to introduce Amy in a big way. I went easy on words because I just wanted a big visual buildup to actually seeing her for the first time.

Also, congratulations to Eric from Wheaton, IL as he is the winner of the Adrift print and original sketch. Congraulations Eric.

Thanks everyone for checking this week's pages out and don't forget to check out the inks of these pages on Thursday.

Page 1 - Inks

2010-02-24T16:36:00.000-08:00

This is the non-colored, final ink version of Page 1. This page was my first ever attempt to ink with a nib pen, and though I don't think it's a terrible first effort, I can definitely see room for improvement was there. The silhouette and surrounding shadow in the last panel was filled in with a brush and ink and some small details were done with Micron pens.

Thanks for looking in on this part of the process

Chapter 1 - Page 1

2010-02-22T04:34:00.000-08:00

Here is the first page of the first chapter of The Jolly Hank. This kicks off the first post of the story that will come to you over the next 9 weeks to complete the 18-page first chapter of this story. Please check back every Monday to see new pages, as well as every Thursday, to see uncolored, inked versions of those pages.

Also, it's not too late to win a print of Adrift, and the original pencil sketch http://jollyhank.blogspot.com/2010/02/kicking-off-jolly-hank-with-free-art.html

Just become a follower of this blog and email me with your mailing address. If you're the first to do so, good day for you, you won!

Enjoy the first page and the story to come. Be sure to bookmark this page on your work computer so you can check in every Monday and Thursday for The Jolly Hank. It's a story of pirates, robots and falling in love.

Cover and Inside Pages

2010-02-20T15:51:00.000-08:00

Here it is folks. The long awaited Cover and First look into The Jolly Hank. This is pretty much the original design I had when I started this project 2 years ago and had plans to make this a print book first.

Thanks for looking, and check back in on Monday for the first page in story. The perfect way to start the work week!

Kicking off the Jolly Hank with FREE ART!

2010-02-18T12:58:00.001-08:00

It's nearing zero hour for the much anticipated launch of The Jolly Hank. It starts this Saturday with the posting of the cover and inside title pages. And it also starts with this contest. The first follower of this blog to email me(hit the "Contact" button on my profile page) after the cover is posted with the subject line: "Jolly Hank Art Contest" will win a print of "Adrift", the image shown above AND the original pencil sketch of "Adrift" shown below. Both pieces are signed by me.

Be sure to include your mailing address in your email.

Be sure to check in on Saturday for the first posting and a chance to win some kick ass artwork featuring Captain Amy and Aarrlene, the Pirate Cat.

What?! Only One More Week?!

2010-02-13T15:37:00.000-08:00

That's right, only one more week to go to the highly anticipated launch of The Jolly Hank. Mark your calenders for next Saturday, February 20th for the unveiling of the cover and credit pages of this web comic. Then make sure you check back on Monday, February 22nd for the unveiling of the first page, kicking off the story.

Look for it in a week. The Jolly Hank: A tale of pirates, robots, and falling in love.

Posting Schedule

2010-01-30T15:33:00.000-08:00

conceptual sketchbook drawings

It's coming up within the month: The premiere of "The Jolly Hank" web comic. We're scheduled to launch on Feb 20th, which is a Saturday. I've decided to keep that as the official launch date, actual pages of the story will come a couple days later. On Feb. 20th, I'm going to post the cover and credit pages, as if it was a regular book. Then on Feb. 22nd, I'm going to post Page 1.

I have 2 reasons for this:

First of all, Feb 22nd is on a Monday, and I thought "what better way to start someone's work week than be giving them a kick ass web comic to check up on every Monday morning." Better than spending your Saturday Night doing that right?

Secondly, February 22nd is the Wedding Anniversary of the real life Amy and Dan, whose wedding kicked off this whole concept which has occupied most of my life for the past 2 years. What better launch date than on the 2nd Anniversary of D.A.N. and Captain Amy?

So to recap: Saturday, February 20th I will post the cover and credit page and Monday February 22nd will be the first posting of the story pages.

My posting schedule after that will be as follows: A 2-page spread will be posted every Monday. Every Thursday will be an additional post of the inks-only version of those pages.

Keep checking back as February 20th approaches. Get yer booties in gear and spread the word.

Looking for Something Good to Read?

2010-01-21T14:23:00.001-08:00

If you're in need of something compelling to read, just hang on because "The Jolly Hank" web comic is launching soon. Saturday, February 20 is the initial launch date for this epic comic adventure. More details are to come in the next few weeks, so check back often, right here for updates on the comic's progress, merchandise, contests and more.

The Jolly Hank is less than one month away, so get yer bootys ready Scurvy Dogs!

Preview Artwork

2009-10-05T17:22:00.000-07:00

Finally made sure I got some preview art to show you. This is an actual panel from an upcoming page of "Jolly Hank". This is Captain Amy and the Pirate Cat Aaarrlene looking regal at the helm, ready to take on the world. This is actually just to give you a preview of the look of the upcoming comic. Keep checking back for more posts, new artwork and a definite schedule of actual pages.

Checking in

2009-09-28T17:01:00.000-07:00

Just checking in followers... I don't have an exact release date for the launch of this project yet, but rest assured that I am spending a more than fair amount of time in the development of this project. I spent most of the day today coloring pages and drinking coffee.... I'm not sure which I did more of, but I did both a lot. Quite a bit done especially since you consider that I did fatherly duties today as well. Laundry, domestic police force, delegation of chores, dog whisperer, and chef of frozen pizza. Busy, but productive day. Thought I'd just let you know that pirates are on the horizon by the end of the year. Until then, I'll keep you posted on what's going on and prepare some sneak previews of some of the art.

Gotta get the kids to bed now. Then it's more laundry, watch "Futurama" and go to bed myself...

Stay tuned.

my new hat

2009-09-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

Today I was happy to find a fancy new hat in my mailbox. Knitted by Captain Amy herself complete down to the badass Jolly Hank emblem on the front. Great job Amy, feels tough enough to endure those tough Chicago winters, so I'm sure the alpaca is more than enough to get me through a South Florida winter!

Coming Soon...

2009-09-15T17:59:00.001-07:00

These guys are gonna be coming atcha soon in a new web-release comic: "Jolly Hank". Follow Amy the She-Pirate and D.A.N. the keg-based cyborg as they travel high seas, swamps, rivers, and deserts, battling other pirates, other robots, psychotic family members, and outlaw snowmobile gangs as they search for jinxed weapons, dismembered limbs and a fat Shi Tsu. It's coming soon, so check back often for updates.

Jolly Hank: a story of pirates, robots, and falling in love.

Talk Like a Pirate Day

2009-09-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

It's upon us scurvy dogs: International Talk Like a Pirate Day... It's happening this Saturday, September 19. So hobble yer peg-legged selves to the poop deck and give all the landlubbers who only celebrate "mainstream" holidays yer best "H'yar" and let 'em know there be pirates about...