Ramzirra

A Few Hot Tips For Making Better Comics

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:06:28 -0400

1. Get a ruler.

2. Get a triangle. A triangle is like a ruler, only it’s shaped like a triangle. It costs like a couple of dollars.

3. Draw straight lines for your panel borders. Use right angles for the corners. That’s what a ruler and triangle can do for you.

4. Measure a distance between your first two panels and then keep using the exact same distance between all your panels in that comic. Those spaces between panels are called gutters. Inconsistently sized gutters look bad and amateurish. Consistently sized gutters look better. It’s a super easy thing to make your comics look way cleaner and more professional. After you try it a few times you don’t have to measure anymore but you DO have to measure at first. So try it!!

Ordinary Days Anthology

Fri, 03 May 2013 22:32:14 -0400

Ordinary Days Anthology:

ordinarydaysanthology:

A 200 page anthology showcasing 21 different artists with foreign backgrounds all writing and creating their own slice of life comics.

PLEASE BACK! So many wonderful artists are being showcased and it’s a great buy!

My webcomic did that updating thing! Yiss~

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:51:00 -0400

My webcomic did that updating thing! Yiss~

dismater: consortes: Ava’s Demon→ Wrathia&Pedri Go read...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:30:00 -0400

dismater:

consortes:

Ava’s Demon
→ Wrathia&Pedri

Go read this, and gloat over the gorgeous artwork (how do colour?) and these lovely character designs, I mean horns everywhere.

This is still a thing, I swear.

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:06:00 -0400

This is still a thing, I swear.

A new challenger approaches! o3o

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:55:00 -0400

A new challenger approaches!

o3o

carriehopefletcher: I want ALL of these….

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:46:54 -0400

carriehopefletcher:

I want ALL of these….

The 8th Kingdom: So I'm almost at 300 pages...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:48:37 -0400

The 8th Kingdom: So I'm almost at 300 pages...:

feywindscomic:

…AND I WANT YOUR ARTS!!!

Why? For three reasons

One: I’m inching towards the end of making my pages printable for Fey Winds Vol. 2, it’s going to cover chapter 3 and mini-chapter 4. This leaves me space for the art, sketches and extras that I didn’t quite have room for in Vol. 1, while…

Reminder to myself to do thiiiiis~

vintereik: Sketch prize for Ramzirra of her character “Locke”....

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 11:49:54 -0400

vintereik:

Sketch prize for Ramzirra of her character “Locke”. It was a privilege to draw him, I only wish I had the skill set to do him better justice. I will be reading Ramzirra’s comic this weekend for sure.

…

Eeeeeeeeeee

This.. this is wonderful! You drew him better than I could have imagined! I love his pose, his expression, the way his coat billows~ Aaaaa, thank you so much!

Now to stare at this for a nice long time. :’D

Wake the Sleepers updated today~!

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:28:02 -0400

Wake the Sleepers updated today~!

vintereik: Another little giveaway, to show my appreciation of...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 21:14:36 -0400

vintereik:

Another little giveaway, to show my appreciation of my followers’ kindness and encouragement…

To a random person I will grant a free cel-shaded drawing, similar to the examples above, depicting their character of choice. Additionally I will give one sketch each for two more random people. All you need to do to enter the giveaway is to reblog this. I do not require you to follow me, but I would appreciate it if those who enter at least somewhat enjoy my drawings, and aren’t just entering for the sake of free things.

I will pick the winners once I hit 500 followers. I will not reveal my current follower count, only that it could be anywhere from a day to many weeks to get there…

Thank you, and good luck ^_^

A Strix Ranger that I’m working on for an upcoming...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:18:00 -0400

A Strix Ranger that I’m working on for an upcoming campaign. C: Fun hair~

So, starting Strix characters can’t speak Common… Language barrier, goooo!

Freelancing Tips, Aka: The stuff that works for me

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:41:17 -0400

rachelgilloblog:

After a few people have asked about how I get freelance work, how I find clients and how I promote myself, I’ve been meaning to start writing an informative post outlining what I do to keep my freelance career going.

This post is gonna be very long so, I appologise in advance. And I hope it is even the tiniest bit useful

Read More

womenaresociety: Nerds and Male Privilege (definitely worth a...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:55:00 -0400

womenaresociety:

Nerds and Male Privilege (definitely worth a read!)

I want to tell you a story.

A few years ago, I was dating a girl who was decidedly not nerd curious. She tolerated my geeky interests with a certain bemused air but definitely didn’t participate in ‘em… not even setting foot inside a comic store on new comic day. She’d wait outside until I was done… which could be a while, since I was friends with several of the staff.

She came in the store exactly once, after I’d explained that no, it’s a pretty friendly place… well lit, spacious, organized and with helpful – and clearly identified – staff members who were willing to bend over backwards to make sure their customers were satisfied.

She was in there for less than 4 minutes before one mouth-breathing troglodyte began alternately staring at her boobs – evidently hoping that x-ray vision could develop spontaneously – and berating her for daring to comment on the skimpy nature of the costumes – in this case, Lady Death and Witchblade. She fled the premises, never to return.

When both the manager and I explained to him in no uncertain terms as to what he did wrong he shrugged his shoulders. “Hey, I was just trying to help you guys! She couldn’t understand that chicks can be tough and sexy! Not my fault she’s a chauvinist,” he said.

And that was when I shot him, your honor.

So with that example in mind, let’s talk about a subject I’ve touched on before: Male Privilege and how it applies to geeks and – more importantly – geek girls.

MALE PRIVILEGE: WHAT IS IT, EXACTLY?

I don’t think I’m breaking any news or blowing minds when I point out that geek culture as a whole is predominantly male. Not to say that women aren’t making huge inroads in science fiction/fantasy fandom, gaming, anime and comics… but it’s still a very male culture. As such, it caters to the predominantly male audience that makes it up. This, in turn leads to the phenomenon known as male privilege: the idea that men – most often straight, white men – as a whole, get certain privileges and status because of their gender.

(Obvious disclaimer: I’m a straight white man.)

In geek culture, this manifests in a number of ways. The most obvious is in the portrayal of female characters in comics, video games and movies. Batman: Arkham City provides an excellent example.

The women are all about sex, sex, sexy sextimes. With maybe a little villainy thrown in for flavor. They may be characters, but they’re also sexual objects to be consumed. I will pause now for the traditional arguments from my readers: these characters are all femme fatales in the comics, all of the characters in the Arkham games are over-the-top, the men are just as exaggerated/sexualized/objectified as the women. Got all of that out of your systems? Good. Because that reaction is exactly what I’m talking about.

Y’see, one of the issues of male privilege as it applies to fandom is the instinctive defensive reaction to any criticism that maybe, just maybe, shit’s a little fucked up, yo. Nobody wants to acknowledge that a one-sided (and one-dimensional) portrayal of women is the dominant paradigm in gaming; the vast majority of female characters are sexual objects.

If a girl wants to see herself represented in video games, she better get used to the idea of being the prize at the bottom of the cereal box. If she wants to see herself as a main character, then it’s time to get ready for a parade of candyfloss costumes where nipple slips are only prevented by violating the laws of physics. The number of games with competent female protagonists who wear more than the Victoria’s Secret Angels are few and far between.

The idea that perhaps the way women are portrayed in fandom is aleetle sexist is regularly met with denials, justifications and outright dismissal of the issue. So regularly, in fact, that there’s a Bingo card covering the most common responses.

Part of the notion of male privilege in fandom is that nothing is wrong with fandom and that suggestions that it might benefit from some diversity is treated as a threat. But what is that threat, exactly? In this case, the threat is that – ultimately – fandom won’t cater to guys almost to exclusion… that gays, lesbians, racial and religious minorities and (gasp!) women might start having a say in the way that games, comics, etc. will be created in the future.

The strawmen that are regularly trotted out – that men are objectified as well, that it’s a convention of the genre, that women actually have more privileges than guys – are a distraction from the real issue: that the Privileged are worried that they won’t be as privileged in the near future if this threat isn’t stomped out. Hence the usual reactions: derailment, minimization and ultimately dismissing the topic all together. As much as my nerdy brethren wish that more girls were of the geeky persuasion, it’s a little understandable why women might be a little reticent. It’s hard to feel valued or fully included when a very vocal group insists that your input is irrelevant, misguided and ultimately unwelcome.

It’s small wonder why geekdom – for all of it’s self-proclaimed enlightened attitudes towards outsiders and outcasts – stil retains the odor of the guy’s locker room. HOW MALE PRIVILEGE AFFECTS GEEK GIRLS IN REAL LIFE Don’t make the mistake of thinking male privilege is solely about how big Power Girl’s tits are, fan service and jiggle physics in 3D fighters. It affects geek girls in direct, personal ways as well. Remember the example I mentioned earlier with my then-girlfriend in the comic store? Her opinions were deemed mistaken and she was told she didn’t “get it”… because she was a girl. Y’see, one of the issues that nerd girls face is the fact that they are seen as girls first and anything else second. And before you flood my comments section demanding to know why this is a bad thing, realize that being seen as a “girl” first colors every interaction that they have within fandom. They’re treated differently because they are women.

We will now pause for the expected responses: well that’s a good thing isn’t it, girls get special treatment because they’re girls, guys will fall all over themselves to try to get girls to like ‘em so it all balances out. If you’re paying attention you’ll realize that – once again – those reactions are what I’m talking about. Y’see, nobody’s saying that women don’t receive different treatment from guys… I’m saying that being treated differently is the problem. And yes, I know exactly what many of you are going to say and I’ll get to that in a minute. Male privilege – again – is about what men can expect as the default setting for society. A man isn’t going to have everything about him filtered through the prism of his gender first. A man, for example, who gets a job isn’t going to face with suggestions that his attractiveness or that his willingness to perform sexual favors was a factor in his being hired, nor will he be shrugged off as a “quota hire”. A man isn’t expected to be a representative of his sex in all things; if he fails at a job, it’s not going to be extrapolated that all men are unfit for that job. A man who’s strong-willed or aggressive won’t be denigrated for it, nor are men socialized to “go along to get along”. A man can expect to have his opinion considered, not dismissed out of hand because of his sex. When paired with a woman who’s of equal status, the man can expect that most of the world will assume that he’s the one in charge. And, critically, a man doesn’t have to continually view the world through the lens of potential violence and sexual assault.

Now with this in mind, consider why being a girl first may be a hindrance to geek girls. A guy who plays a first person shooter – Call of Duty, Halo, Battlefield, what-have-you – online may expect a certain amount of trash talking, but he’s not going to be inundated with offers for sex, threats of rape, sounds of simulated masturbation or demands that he blow the other players – but not before going to the kitchen and getting them a beer/sandwich/pizza first. Men will also not be told that they’re being “too sensitive” or that “they need to toughen up” when they complain about said sexual threats.

Men also won’t have their opinions weighed or dismissed solely on the basis of how sexy or attractive they are. The most common responses a woman can expect in an argument – especially online – is that she’s fat, ugly, single, jealous, a whore, or a lesbian – or any combination thereof – and therefore her opinion is irrelevant, regardless of it’s actual merits. This is especially true if she’s commenting on the portrayal of female characters, whether in comics, video games or movies. Men can expect that their presence at an event won’t automatically be assumed to be decorative or secondary to another man.

Despite the growing presence of women in comics, as publishers, editors and creators as well as consumers, a preponderance of men will either treat women at conventions as inconveniences, booth bunnies or even potential dates. Many a female creator or publisher has had the experience of convention guests coming up and addressing all of their questions to the man at the table… despite being told many times that the man is often the assistant, not the talent, only there to provide logistical support and occasional heavy lifting.

Men are also not going to be automatically assigned into a particular niche just based on their gender. A girl in a comic store or a video game store is far more likely to be dismissed as another customer’s girlfriend/sister/cousin rather than being someone who might actually be interested in making a purchase herself. And when they are seen as customers, they’re often automatically assumed to be buying one of the designated “girl” properties… regardless of whether they were just reading Ultimate Spider-Man or looking for a copy of Saint’s Row 3.

Of course, the other side of the coin isn’t much better; being dismissed for the sin of being a woman is bad, but being placed on the traditional pillar is no less insulting. Guys who fall all over themselves to fawn over a geek girl and dance in attendance upon her are just as bad. The behavior is different, but the message is the same: she’s different because she’s a girl. These would-be white knights are ultimately treating her as a fetish object, not as a person.

It’s especially notable when it comes to sexy cosplayers; the guys will laude them for being geek girls and celebrate them in person and online. They’ll lavish attention upon them, take photos of them and treat them as queens… And in doing so, they’re sending the message that women are only valued in geek culture if they’re willing to be a sexually alluring product.

Everybody loves Olivia Munn when she enters the room ass-cheeks first as Aeon Flux, but nobody is particularly concerned by the girls dressed in a baseball tee, jeans and ballet flats. One of these is welcomed into geek culture with open arms, the other has to justify their existence in the first place. WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN TO YOU? The reason why male privilege is so insidious is because of the insistance that it doesn’t exist in the first place. That willful ignorance is key in keeping it in place; by pretending that the issue doesn’t exist, it is that much easier to ensure that nothing ever changes.

Geek society prides itself on being explicitly counter-culture; nerds will crow about how, as a society, they’re better than the others who exclude them. They’ll insist that they’re more egalitarian; geeks hold tight to the belief that geek culture is a meritocracy, where concepts of agism, sexism and racism simply don’t exist the way it does elsewhere. And yet, even a cursory examination will demonstrate that this isn’t true. And yet geeks will cling to this illusion while simultaneously refusing to address the matters that make it so unattractive to women and minorities. They will insist that they treat women exactly the same as they treat guys – all the while ignoring the fact that their behavior is what’s making the women uncomfortable and feeling unwelcome in the first place. They will find one girl in their immediate community who will say that she’s not offended and use her as the “proof” that nobody else is allowed to be offended.

Changing this prevailing attitude starts with the individual. Call it part of learning to be a better person; being willing to examine your own attitudes and behaviors and to be ruthlessly honest about the benefits you get from being a white male in fandom is the first step. Waving your hands and pretending that there isn’t a problem is a part of the attitude that makes women feel unwelcome in fandom and serves as the barrier to entry to geeky pursuits that she might otherwise enjoy. Bringing the spotlight onto the concept of male privilege as it exists in nerd culture is the first step in making it more welcoming of diversity, especially women. *Thanks to Madoka for bringing this to my attention.

unatheblade: archaiaentertainment: chirart: My roommate...

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:05:24 -0400

unatheblade:

archaiaentertainment:

chirart:

My roommate bought me the first volume of the North American release of Siegfried. And I just

it’s so gorgeous

I can’t

there are not enough can’t’s in the world

I have run out of them

it is impossible to can’t further than I have already done

falls to the floor

crawls over to the book

slowly curls around it and gently strokes it

cries

A beautiful mix of art from the Siegfried Graphic Novels. We’re glad you were able to enjoy your copy of Volume 1 so much!

Those of you out there who haven’t picked it up yet, Volume 1 is available now in comic shops and wherever books are sold!

Siegfried volume 2 can be PRE-ORDERED now!

My copy is in the mail. This book is absolutely gorgeous. Archaia is killing it lately.

I can’t

it’s just

hnnggg

*orders*

bandkanon: dreamofserenity626: bonkalore: candlehat: yannevold: globalsoftpirka: foryouistellif...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 09:11:36 -0400

bandkanon:

dreamofserenity626:

bonkalore:

candlehat:

yannevold:

globalsoftpirka:

foryouistellify:

paleocat:

blackstrawberrybang:

z-raid:

thornheartcat:

jin-nyeh:

reaill:

jetgreguar:

citrusvision:

doodleloser:

the-katty-korner:

frappy-bear:

supatomic:

everyone’s doing it

I couldn’t resist

i guess since there’s a thread

uguu

hey

fine, whatever

Decided to do some fanart of Kinas from The Descended!Brian has...

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:02:00 -0500

Decided to do some fanart of Kinas from The Descended!

Brian has been so supportive of my webcomic for quite a while, so a thanks is long overdue! Thank yooouuu! C: Your art progression in the past year or so has been outstanding! Keep goingggg~ :’D

Himi's Doodle Blog AKA The Procrastination Station: Describe your webcomic in 5 words, and leave a link.

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:21:00 -0500

Himi's Doodle Blog AKA The Procrastination Station: Describe your webcomic in 5 words, and leave a link.:

x-retrospect:

cansofbeans:

onlyfoolsandvikings:

noelarthurian:

robinofleylines:

kezhound:

The War of Winds: Stolen artifact controls their destiny

What it Takes: Kickass girl rescues her boyfriend

I want to see how far this can go. Link! Link! Describe!

LeyLines: Choosing…

Unrealistic Scenario: Magical Girl forced into group

Wake the Sleepers: Good guy. Very unfortunate circumstances.

Trash Planet (WiP): Tetanus. Tetanus everywhere. Also zombies.

Wake the Sleepers update! C:

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:22:00 -0500

Wake the Sleepers update! C:

“The Players” A collaboration between Jon Grasseschi...

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 08:50:00 -0500

“The Players”

A collaboration between Jon Grasseschi (lineart) and me (color)!

If you’re in the Seattle area around March 1-3, you can buy this as a print at ECCC from Jon (table P-08)! I won’t be there this year, unfortunately. :C Maybe next time~