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Out There (Page Test) (Patreon)

Published:
2023-12-18 14:29:17
Edited:
2023-12-18 14:30:35
Imported:
2026-06

Content

HELLO GUYS!

I'm so so so sorry for not posting a new page last Friday.

I got very sick with Covid after Comic Con (yup..) and while I was burning up with fever I decided to schedule page posts for you. A few days later I drove off into the sunset somewhere with absolutely no internet. You can only imagine the mess I've made out of if, because I certainly wasn't thinking straight. But now I'm back into civilization and ready to try and fix it!

While we wait for the ACTUAL next page this Friday, I thought it would be interesting to share a different kind of comic page with you! And I'll also share some thoughts I've been having for quite some time about the future of No North.

I did not plan to share this because it is spoilerish. It's part of Book 2, but I'm not too sure I'll be keeping this scene in the story.

So I decided to turn it into a test page. I wanted to challenge myself to make a full comic page as fast as I possibly could. I love working on No North with its classic style, but I'm starting to realize it'll take me forever to finish this story if I keep it.

Of course this is way too sketchy and sloppy, but I was happy I could finish this in about 1/4 of the time a usual comic pages take me.

Also, I really like how this might also potentially feel more expressive and intense... It might open up new visual possibilities and give me stylistic flexibility and more creative freedom than the original style.

When I finish Book 1 (we're somewhat getting close to the end), you'll start seeing a a few more test pages like this one, because I really want to find that sweet spot between visual beauty and production speed!

I would absolutely LOOOOVE to hear your thoughts on the style and the scene itself! (Serious Steban is an unusual sight, and exploring his relationship with Billy is always interesting!)

Thank you guys SO MUCH for your wonderful support and love! You are the BEST!!!

Files

Comments

Dark Raven

Best of recovery to you,Skai🥺

LOM

Steban scaring Billy is something I never thought I’d see, but I’m all for it 😆! Honestly even as a sketchy page it still looks pretty great, especially in regards to the background, which is honestly perfect here 👌. I hope you’re feeling better and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the comic has in store!

Blind

Aww I love how this looks. Also I hope you feel better soon. Covid is no fun

Terror

I actually really like this.. Sure, a full-scale finished page looks nice, but I think there's a certain charm to this.

Jaye Hammon

glad you feel better skai! also this is badass on stebans part

Malachi

First impression of this style for me was "oh HELL YEAH!" I'm sure you've noticed many professionals use the "sketchy style" and I feel like this is quality is something I could pull off the shelf and by at a bookstore. This would be perfect. Professional looking and not enough to absolutely burn you out haha. TV shows do it too. When you have a series go to a movie their quality goes up astronomically since they're doing one big thing instead of episodes. You could save your over the top gorgeous style for one time scenes and concepts. Looks like you have a great plan going! Love your work as always.

Malachi

I'm posting two comments now because I love this XD IT LOOKS LIKE A COMIC!!! I love it. Seriously. It's fun.

Mercury Blackpaw

I actually really like this sketchy style, maybe with a bit of refining and matching background and character style in this more simplified way it could look really really good and also maybe it can give a tiny bit more edge and harshness to the story in parts, also the wax you do lighting can make pretty much any style you choose look pretty cause it's just really good^^

Lombarsi

This is great! Of course us artists know that the foundation of composition and color and the characters is really what creates the awe in an artwork and you do great stuff even in quick form, it has a lot of emotion and your characters are still just as good. And you can always go full rendering on splash pages ;)

Zai287

Hope you feel better 💝

Streetfair

I love it! 😁 In a world filled with picture perfect AI, I appreciate a bit of roughness in art more and more. Feels more raw and human. This style looks great - super expressive😍❤️

Jig

I personally like this style. It still looks nice and if it makes work easier then it's a win win. Seeing more test pages in the future would definitely be neat. It would be cool to see some stylistic changes throughout too just because in my mind it kinda shows a progression. As always amazing work with art and writing. You guys are seriously talented 😍

Maddie M

Thus page is so interesting to me because usually Billy has the upper hand but now Steban has it and Steban is so serious in this and I love how the way the colors fit the emotions love this

Dinohunter014

You never break the nice guy, if you do, you won't like the monster he can become. Love Steban actually taking a stand and even threatening back Billy, which is something I haven't seen from Steban yet.

Aaron Ross

Absolutely love the new style! Plus Steban’s badass response to Billy is a nice surprise!

Andrea Rosati

Quindi stai pensando di fare il secondo libro con uno stile più veloce da produrre? Approverei questa cosa perché effettivamente capisco il duro lavoro che c'è dietro ogni pagina.

AeroDog

Wow, sick AND no internet! No wonder you didn't post last Friday, I was wondering what was going on. I hope you're feeling better now! I think this style change is interesting. I'm honestly kind of on the fence about it, because I really enjoy the refined look of No North as it is now, but I agree that a style change that is a bit sketchier/rougher does help to give it a more dramatic and expressive tone. It would help to give it a grittier feel that would work well for serious and tense scenes and character interactions, kind of like this page. I'm also sympathetic to you, as the artist, that it would make page production a little simpler. It also makes me think of some of Disney's animated classics from the '60s and '70s which tended to have a bit of that sketchy, hand drawn look to them, and I've actually always really liked that. I agree with what Streetfair said above, it does give it more raw and human quality. Though it's hard for me to let go of the refined look of the comic as it is now because it just looks so, so good! I myself always tend toward refinement when I draw - especially clean and crisp linework. It's one of the reasons why I still have so little art posted on my Instagram, because when I draw I always obsess over details and want everything to look just so. That's just how my mind works. And so I end up spending enormous amounts of time on one piece. All in all, I guess the only thing I can conclude here is that I think that you should definitely try to find a good balance between refinement and production efficiency, like you said. I really wish I could offer a more substantive or decisive take on this, but I can see merit for both sides of the argument between efficiency and refinement. It's still a great looking page though! Your background work and lighting are just beautiful as always!

Maverick

Awwwwwwww hope that you are feeling better and recovery well Skailla. ☺️ I have to say that this sketch style looks quite interesting makes their expressions and the scene more intense. It does look awesome though, the interaction between Steban and Billy in this looks like tension is building up. Haven’t seen Steban so serious to his usual personality. It really sets it interesting scene. As always another great page and amazing work.

SaigeTheSilverWolf

This looks incredible! Serious Steban is actually very frightening, oh my gosh. The last panel really reminds me of this one part in Disney’s Brother Bear, one of my old animated favorites. I really love how you can retain that rough/sketch feeling while still adding in all the necessary details to make it look amazing! Whatever you choose to do, we’re all rootin’ for ya’!

SaigeTheSilverWolf

Also this piece really reminds me of Lord Huron’s song Way Out There, did you reference it off that, based on the name?

Neil Gillons

Quite a tense and confronting scene. And serious Steban would certainly raise concerning eyebrows.👀👀👀 I can't imagine the lead up to this.🔥🔥🔥🔥 And these test pages are so cool!!!

Andrew Quintero

This is probably the first time we’ve seen Steban look so scared and serious at the the same time.

Captain_Campion

Love the page, Skailla!! Personally, I personally prefer the "more refined" look of No North as it is, and I don't mind waiting longer for the pages. This style does look very interesting though, so hopefully you can find a compromise that works for you!

Kajlilaro

i LOVE this page style!! Sketchy art has always been a favorite of mine so id be very happy reading a book with this style^^

Jackal J.

Atmosphere is incredible! Those falling drops and that yellow-orange background with gray toning, I absolutely love it! I agree with others. This style is more dramatic and serious. It would be fine, if you will use it in sadder scenes to ponder. I wish you to find that right combination. 😊

BurningWolfPromise

Definitely glad to hear that you're doing well, and got past the dreaded Covid! It's tough to work on things when your sick, and I hope you got plenty of rest in between. I'm all for the new direction when you choose to go with this style. There's also a certain element to it that reminds me of how some manga and other comic books tend to follow, especially when going for a more gritty atmosphere. I admit, I will miss seeing this style throughout the comic, but I understand that drawing such a phenomenally detailed comic can be very time consuming. A remedy I'd probably suggest could be relegating the classic style to cover pages, or maybe for scenes that may have a grand scope that requires the detail. The choice is completely up to you, and I'm all in favor to what you choose. Love this test page, just the same as I've loved seeing your styles progress and change over the years. I look forward to seeing where these wild adventures in No North will take us, and the many character's we'll meet along the way. We love you Skailla, and have a very happy holidays!