Behind the frames
Sandstone Comics: A 2019 Retrospective, gives insight into the making of a graphic novel; on view at The Guild
A little under one year ago, three Island graphic artists came together to publish a 72page graphic novel.
Now Sandy Carruthers, Robert Doan and Greg Webster are showing the original artwork used in their first edition in a new exhibition in Charlottetown. Presented by The Guild, Sandstone Comics: A 2019 Retrospective gives gallerygoers insight into the creative process.
The book, Sandstone Comics Presents No. 1, was launched on March 30, 2019. The graphic novel contains three stories that were written, illustrated, inked, coloured and lettered by these three Island artists.
With comic book art, people often only get to see the finished page. But the creators felt it was important to show the public the various steps leading up to the final piece.
“It’s a really great way to see the craft and the fingerprints behind it. It’s also a celebration, the first-year anniversary of Sandstone Comics,” says Carruthers of the show which continues at The Guild until Jan. 21.
His images for Leap Frog, his contribution to the graphic novel, shows the pen and ink drawings plus the finished, camera-ready colour images that are reproduced in the book. (Set between one star and another, it’s the tale of a race to the next star because people can’t survive where they are.)
“You can’t have one without the other. Our presentation at The Guild allows us to show our work prior to print.”
Doan agrees.
“People are always curious about the process and the original art,” says the Sherwood artist who has worked for comic companies for the past seven years, including Star Trek, Disney and DC Comics.
He hopes the exhibition will shine some light on the creation of Indestructible, his first, full-length, creatorowned project. It’s a superhero story about Nucleus that takes place in the fictional Charlotte City.
“This is the first comic I’ve ever drawn and written by myself. When I started working on this, nobody knew I worked for all these companies so it’s nice to get some local recognition.”
Webster is also thrilled to be recognized. His story, The Ghost of the Cradle is his first foray into the world of comics.
“It’s a brand-new experience for me. And it involves a lot,” says the P.E.I. graphic designer and illustrator.
Learning terms like closeup, medium shot and long shot and setting up the frames was the easy part.
“The hardest part was coming up with the story. Comic creators are artists so, for many of us, writing is challenging. So is penciling everything, that’s the tough part.
“Once you get the pencils on the page and the drawing is done, you take it and it evolves into that final page.”