About the Artist/Writer
My penname is Kali Gargoyle. I've been writing, drawing, and creating in general for nearly my entire life. I'm currently 20 years-old, working part-time, but not going to school (temporarily, due to medical reasons.) My current hobbies/free time interests include drawing and writing (duh!), TMNT (double duh!), and a few other misc. things. My favorite genre is science fiction/fantasy.
My email address is kaligargoyle@yahoo.com, and I check it everyday (usually.) I'm working on a couple "mass discussion" ideas, and I'll get back to you on those.
About the Comics
() Why did you decide to start doing comics?
I've been writing stories and drawing for a very long time. It seemed obvious to combine the two. I got into collecting comics in the mid-nineties, and continued until I pretty much ran out of money and series' that interested me. Once I got a job, I found a few comic book stores and started up again, though not as passionately.
When I became a "reborn" Ninja Turtle fan, I discovered their old comic book series and started searching for that. I didn't know independent titles even existed before then. The idea of self-publication hit me full force and got me thinking. However, I had nowhere near the money. But still, maybe someday...
Then I discovered webcomics. Something anybody can do and publish, despite nearly everything. Even artistic talent. I liked this idea and started building up ideas and characters. I built this site, and that's it. Someday I may join a "free webcomic site" or even pay for my own site and have it be all professional like. I may even really publish these things one day. But for now, this is it.
() Where do you get your ideas?
Everywhere. Most of my characters and plot ideas come from my fan fiction. A lot of my ideas don't get used because I either can't make them work, get writer's block, or keep it on the shelf so long I can't get my inspiration back. So, instead of throwing the ideas away, I recycle them.
Soulless: The main character Kali, and her whole upbringing and situation is based on an RP I play, which stemmed into a fan fiction, and then it's own universe. A few other characters are from another fan fic I was going to write, but never got to.
Animal Instinct: This started as a bunch of recycled characters I had no idea what to do with. I wrote and rewrote their story many, many times until I got something I liked (and generally made sense.)
Random Fun: Kinda self-explanatory. This stems from real and on-line events that I find humorous.
() How do you make your comics?
First, I write my chapters out in semi-prose form, this is my rough draft. From there, I make a script, page by page, as I simultaneously plan out my panels. I draw on 8.5" x 11" plain computer paper, with 1/4" margins.
My equipment list is as follows: a BIC mechanical pencil with HB .7 mm lead, a wooden ruler with metal strip, a Rose Art #2 pencil, rubber/gum eraser, an eraser pen, and soft felt paper blending stumps.
Once I have my panels measured out and lightly penciled in, I use the mechanical pencil to sketch in the figures and letters/word bubbles in each panel. Then, starting at panel one and doing them one at a time, I clean up my roughs until the picture is finished, including darkening the letters, word bubbles, and panel borders. Anything small-ish that needs to be "black", I color them with the mech. pencil. For bigger areas, or ones that need gradual shading I use the Rose Art #2. So now that it's nice and shaded, I take my blending stump and smooth everything out, adding really light shadows. Finally, I clean up any stray marks with one of the erasers. I then move on to the next panel and repeat. Until I finish the page.
Next, I scan, save, and upload. That's it. After that, I put the page in a special folder. I'm working on getting sealer so the graphite won't smug and sheet protectors and a binder to put them in.
About Stuff...
Is Fan Art allowed? What about Guest Strips?
Actually, I really don't think I'll be getting stuff for awhile, but I might as well answer this now. Yes, I will accept fan art, and will post it if it's appropriate. I'd prefer R or lower, not that I think XXX stuff is sick or wrong, I like it if it's tasteful, but there's an overall rating on the site.
As for guest strips, sure. However, I probably won't post them right away. I'll be saving guest strips for fillers between books, and if I ever fall too far behind.
I'll be posting other FAQ here as I get them.