Page 9 Done - Badin and the Secret of the Saami

To celebrate the entire completion of 9 out of 20 pages in Act 1 of Badin and the Secret of the Saami, I share this snapshot of one panel on the page. I am almost half-way finished with this very important part of the project.

Why is it so important? I need a finished work to present to agents and/or publishers to humbly ask for their financial support so that I can finish the entire graphic novel by Fall 2016. Like all artists that start out like this, I am having trouble paying the bills and buying groceries thanks to this wild and crazy Swedish adventure I have heaped upon myself. If I find such a person or entity, it would be such a relief. If I do not, I will still do it myself. This is a story that must be told.

As usual, the image you see was created using Manga Studio 5EX. I have been making screen movies of some of my work so you can see how I made some of the pages (I plan to release it after it is published).

I wanted to also tell you that I work very hard to improve my craft through "drawing drills" almost nightly. That is, I make 8 to 12 sketches of the same thing. Lately, my focus has been trees, mouths, noses and feet. I grab one of my many how-to-draw books, crack it open, find an object and draw it...and draw it...and draw it again and again.

I also recently published the Swedish versions of my children's books Knös Jätten and Motalas Svenska Flicka. Please check them out at Lulu. They are written to inspire children to overcome adversity and reach for greatness.

Bit by Bit - Badin and the Secret of the Saami

I am crawling steadily through the illustration phase of Badin and the Secret of the Saami. If I could afford it, I would work on nothing else. Therefore, I will pray for a miracle while I continue to do my best. Meanwhile, until those thousands of eager people will purchase my on-demand photo restoration tutorials or my stock illustrations, I will probably average 2 or 3 completed pages (inked, colored and lettered) per week. For an 80 page story, that seems like an eternity of 50 hour work weeks.

The snapshot at left is a small portion of the western stairwell of the Swedish Royal Palace in Stockholm. Finding interior source images of this magnificent edifice is very difficult. I've bought every book I could find—and afford—as well as scoured every website I could translate. For one of Europe's greatest palaces, I find the lack of coffee table hardcover photo books about the Royal Palace disturbing. Swedes have a code of modesty in their DNA. But if that is the reason, I have to say it sure frustrates me as an artist—even if I am half Swedish! If I lived in Sweden, I would've visited this place at least twice with a sketchbook to scout for scenes.

Nevertheless, as you can see, I'm getting inspiration from something. This is a small portion of a background image in Act 1 of Badin and the Secret of the Saami. I have modified it slightly for composition purposes. But it is almost identical to the real thing as seen here at Gamla Stan i Stockholm's website.

Queen Lovisa Ulrika - Badin and the Secret of the Saami

I'm entering another exciting part of Badin and the Secret of the Saami: Illustrating scenes from Queen Lovisa Ulrika's Audience Chamber at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden (Stockholmsslott). Although I'm not revealing any other characters or finished art at this time, I wanted to show you a snapshot of my screen as I was working.

You will see a strange set of guides in the background. That is from the extremely useful book called Extreme Perspective for Artists by a very talented and intelligent David Chelsea.

Production improvement for Badin and the Secret of the Saami

Abstract from a finished page

As I write this, I am at the final stage (coloring) for page 6 of Act 1. Creating these first pages has been an emotional roller coaster. I did not realize how much emotion plays a part in the story until I saw what I drew! For nine months all I have looked at were words on paper, model sheets and very rough pencil sketches. It is a very different kind of presentation. I would liken it to meeting the characters of Badin and the Secret of the Saami in person. It is both exciting and frightening.

I think I understand what seasoned comic artists and writers mean when they say that good art compliments good writing. However, that assumes I am doing something good for either component. I hope I am. I can only keep going, I suppose. Maybe after you read Badin and the Secret of the Saami in autumn 2016, you will comment or send me a message with your thoughts.

I made some notes of how my process has changed in the past week or two (using Manga Studio 5EX).

1. Create panel guides, copy trim and live guides based on thumbnail layout sketches. 
2. Create the frame folders with Frame Sub-Tool. 
3. Run actions to create the following layers in each frame folder: Composition, draft, ink. 
4. Create word balloons and enter dialog/narration with Text Curve Balloon Sub-Tool. Make sure custom text settings are activated. 
5. Place appropriate composition rulers by Doug Hills into each frame folder. 
6. Adjust draft layer elements and lettering according to composition ruler if necessary. I tend to use Rule of Thirds, Golden Slant and Golden Spiral the most. These help me construct very pleasing compositions in the frames.

Her Majesty's Bravest Son Poster - Badin and The Secret of the Saami

What better way to start the new year than with a new Badin and the Secret of the Saami poster?

The Queen of Sweden’s adopted son must save her Kingdom from Destruction—But not without a sacrifice.

This one features the first public image of Gustav Badin as he appears in the graphic novel (he will be illustrated at various stages in his life, but mostly during his childhood). For the first time in world history, this fascinating Swedish man is depicted as the main character in a sequential art presentation (fancy words for 'comic book'). I am so proud and excited to feature him as the complete opposite of how so many others have shamefully portrayed him. As proven in the translation of his diary, the English- and Swedish-speaking world now knows he was a brilliant and honorable man.

So I need all of you to take this poster and avatar and tell the world about him. In Badin and the Secret of the Saami, he is the hero and the most bravest son of the Queen of Sweden, Lovisa Ulrika. Although my graphic novel is historical fiction, Badin was the adopted son of Queen Lovisa Ulrika and she loved and trusted him as much as her own children.

All of Sweden, those of Swedish descent, and those who love a good story will not be disappointed. I want to put Badin in the spotlight. I want to put Sweden in the spotlight. I want to put the Saami people in the spotlight. There is so much I want to tell you. However, that would be cheating. So stay connected and never miss an update.

You can order a beautiful high resolution print of this poster from TheBlackRhino Deviant Art website.

Download the avatar:

Download the social media version for your Twitter, Facebook or other site:

First 4 Pages Done - Badin and the Secret of the Saami

Abstract close up from a panel on page 4

Badin and the Secret of the Saami is a grueling project. I have never worked so hard on a daily basis in my life. In addition to my regular photo retouching and illustration businesses, there is this mountain of a graphic novel that I am slowly climbing.

I am working daily and am fueled only by the vision of seeing it completed. So far, with 4 pages complete—ink, color and lettering—I only have 76 to go. That's easier said than done. However, as I work, I am becoming better and faster at drawing and using Manga Studio 5EX. During this entire process—which started in May, 2015—I have immersed myself in art books, videos and various drawing exercises. One of the recent books I am finishing up is called Extreme Perspective for Artists by David Chelsea. I have never read anything more technical and fun about art like this book. I have been trying to employ some of the concepts from this book into Badin and the Secret of the Saami. But it is a highly specialized book. To get more into the history of King Gustav III, I have also been reading Drottningholm, Palace by the Lakeside.

The most exciting part of this project so far is seeing the main characters come alive: Badin, King Gustav III, Princess Sofia Albertina and the Queen Mother Lovisa Ulrika. It is very emotional, in fact. As I said to my wife with tears welling up in my eyes, I wish Badin was still alive to see what I am doing. I have also grown to adore the Queen Mother, Princess Sofia and King Gustav III during my research. All of them walk and talk to me in my imagination.

I truly hope you will purchase and enjoy Badin and the Secret of the Saami when it is finished. I certainly am enjoying working on it.

Lots of Bad Weather for Badin and the Secret of the Saami

Lots of rain in this sneak peak of Act 1

For you non-Swedes, discussion about weather—on land and on sea—is not treated as small talk in Sweden. This has been the way since anyone can remember. In fact, much of the diary by the real Gustav Badin (nee Couche) is comprised of various weather reports.

So let it be no surprise that both lousy and pleasant weather will be a big part of the environments I illustrate in Badin and the Secret of the Saami. It is not easy to draw scenes with inclement weather. Rain and wind during the day or night is tough. However, that challenge provides opportunities to be very creative.

I am so excited about this project. I am working during the day and night (even while laying in bed, trying to fall asleep, I am working on it) to make this the best creative endeavor I could ever do. One of my most frequent prayers is for Allah (God) to give me all the power needed to keep healthy and alive and see this thing to the end. I want to make all Swedes proud of the story (especially those of Saami and African ethnicity). Moreover, if you are not Swedish, my goal is to make you feel Swedish.

Your support of this endeavor will not be in vain. Spread the word. Put some banners on your social media websites. Tell your friends. The Secret is out!