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Kneesvember Recap
🕑 Added 2024-01-08 20:21:45 +0000 UTCI thought it would be fun to share with you all of the behind-the-scenes material that I wrote before and during Kneesvember 2023 since there was a lot of it, and some from years ago!
This first image at the top was some colour-testing I did in late October using a range of Prismacolor coloured pencils. I was pretty convinced beforehand that violet would be at least one of the two or three colours I would use, because I love the depth of values it provides. But when I saw cobalt turquoise and carmine red next to one another, I sort of fell in love! The "FALSE KNEES" in the corner is some pen-testing for the text and framing of panels.
More colour testing with coloured pencils, 2023
I quite like the look I have here, it's a little looser of a style than what I ended up using–partly because there is no pressure when doing sketches, partly because there is no underdrawing nor any composition to consider here. I find it difficult to stay loose on final versions of things–something to work on!
Even more colour-testing! But these are from May of 2020 using mechanical pencil.
I first came up with the idea for this story when a clothing brand contacted me in March or April 2020 asking to illustrate an image for a hooded sweater and to write a mini-comic. There was to be a common theme between the products and they would be sold together as a package. At first I wanted to use a crow, but then thought that owls have a broader appeal, and that barn owls are found all over the world, so they would make a popular sweater design wherever.
I worked on it a lot. Like, too much. It was early pandemic days, and this is what I buried myself into. I drew the sweater part in like a day and then spent weeks arranging plot and tying themes to the company's stated "core values" and history. This owl was going to be lonely, isolated and sad, but would persevere through hard work and determination, and ultimately become an industry leader! To reiterate, this was a clothing company who probably thought that it would be cute to include a ten-page side art to accompany their main product, which I had little interest in.
Around mid-June, I had a video chat meeting with the company heads to lay out my ideas and I remember thinking, very vividly, looking down at my stacks of notes, work desk filled with sketches, that I had gone too far. I was sitting there, stammering, describing the emotional state of this fictional owl to a group of men I had never met who just wanted to sell some sweaters.
A week later, on my birthday, I sent them a message apologetically removing myself from the project. I hid the sketches and storyboards away in the bottom of a drawer and tried to forget about the whole thing. For a while, coming across any hint of that project was a source of great embarrassment for me. I've had plenty of failed projects in my career, but I had never put so much energy, time, or myself into any of them as much as this one.
One evening this past summer, Mélodie and I were discussing potential Falsetober (or Kneesvember) ideas, the barn owl story came up, and I guess I spoke about it with great enthusiasm because Mélodie was really into it, which is all the convincing I ever need.
Storyboard (out of chronological order), 2020
The core story remained the same from 2020 to 2023, but many details were added later (the original story didn't have a Myrtle), and some themes were cut because they were too sad (I wrote it when I was sad and stressed about the world).
More storyboard, 2020
I believe in the original version, the owl didn't speak at all. Fun!
Planning out the days on cards
Prior to starting the story, I cut out as many cards as there are days in the month and plan out where key elements of the story need to happen. I've done this practice since Hop!, writing out as many 'days' as I can ahead of time so I can organize the story but still have the option to move things around. I never fill out every card before I start. For example, this year I had about half to two thirds done with plenty of blanks left to fill out ideas that needed more space or for ideas that I haven't had yet. On day 4, I hadn't planned on showing the hummingbird originally, but I'm so glad I did as it's one of my favourites from the whole month. The baltimore oriole art friend the owl makes near the end was also made up quite late in the story.
Sketchbook page, 2023
Initially I wanted to call the stick and leaf owl 'Trish' but Mélodie vetoed it hard. She was also the one who came up with the name 'Myrtle'! For unknown reasons, I first imagined Myrtle to be bigger than the owl. The mess in the middle is me counting (incorrectly) how many pages the book will have.
Lines, 2023
I like drawing lines! Straight lines, wavy lines, it's all good.
Sketches, composition planning, 2023
This is what an average sketch looks like for me. I have dozens of pages like this for this story. Lots of simple math in the margins to figure out panel sizing, notes to myself emphasized with asterisks, and so so many arrows.
Unused dialogue, 2023
This project isn't quite finished yet, as I still have some file formatting and cover design to complete before delivering the manuscript to my printer and then approving of test prints. It feels good to have dug this owl out from the forgotten bottom of a drawer and the repressed back of my mind to give it a new life and to be able to share it with all of you! I'm proud of how it turned out, and in hindsight, I'm relieved it didn't get involved with any brands.
A pile of shavings
Finally, I just wanted to give a shout-out to coloured pencils, haha. In Canada, we call them pencil crayons, which is odd. Anyway, I love drawing, so using this medium–although not the same as regular graphite pencils–was usually a wonderful experience. I might not reach for them for my next big project as they come with their own unique idiosyncrasies (eg. smudging, difficult to scan), but I will keep them closer to my art board than I did before starting this story, and I encourage any artists out there to do so as well.
- Joshua
Comments
Jan Martinek
Thanks for sharing! Wouldn’t guess that this owl is a phoenix in disguise :) I loved the story and I’m looking fw to seeing it in print!
Jaeger Spratt
This is fascinating!! Thanks so much for sharing, and it's immensely heartwarming to hear how a project that felt so "off" for you managed to find it's own right space in the end. It was such a a beautiful story!
aqueousErbium
Thank you :+).
Lucy Pondmoss
Thank you for sharing this entire process! I am excited to add this book to my collection when it is ready - it is my favorite story so far and it is really evident how much you put into the story from start to finish.
Lori Stokes
I was never more aware of the fact that I just sit back and receive this art every day. Seeing the behind-the-scenes story is so impactful. Artists don’t just sit down and draw something. It’s a lot of beautiful hard work. Thank you for doing it for all of us.
Aleksandra S
Owls have a broader appeal than crows? That's a surprising thought! Crows are way more common (I mean, owls are night animals too, so it's harder to come across them. I've never seen one!).
NicolleFR
I just wanted to say, I adore how utterly beautiful your art is. I appreciate your humour, and the stories you tell, but there is just something so special about how gorgeous and expressive your work is. Thank you for sharing it with us all!
Jessica K
Loved seeing all this. Thank you for sharing 😊
Sandy Kavanaugh, of Hens' Haven.
I love using the Prismacolor pencils! Another artist suggested them to me, as their smooth and oil like textures really carry color and depth, but I only use them for coloring my chicken coloring books. And please, don't ever be embarrassed about doing too much for a job. That's called commitment, and it's a virtue, not a fault. Me'lodie was right again, supporting your barn owl and ditching "Trish!" Ick! Myrtle is stable, a bush, and color. And making a contract with a company who can spread your style and artistry is fine. It's a business. Just be sure you are proud to be associated with whom you lend your talents. While I personally find the Schultz family's selling to apparently, any commercial interest, to be abhorrent, that's just my opinion. I could easily see your work being used as a field guide, especially for birds. Besides, seeing your work always lifts my spirits, so keep up this fine tradition. (Sorry for the long post; I talk a lot, too.)
Sarah R.
This was such a moving and inspiring post! Thank you for sharing your gorgeous sketches, your storyboarding process, and the origin of the story. You have all my admiration and respect for not getting rid of the owl's tale and for being willing to revisit it later and turn it into something even more grand and wonderful. <3
John Friedrich
I remember Ursula Vernon sharing the idea that there's no such thing as a wasted effort. Even a big project that never comes to fruition will have some delightful bits that can be harvested for future endeavors.
Whitney Pang
This journey about the "overworked" owl is really relatable. Sometimes ideas/concepts born in the artistic/spiritual realm are not meant to fit within the confines of the capitalistic economy. I am glad Mr Owl will get his own story in its purest form, outside the brand of hoodies.
Jenny C
Thank you for sharing, this post is fascinating. I reread Spores this weekend and I was thinking about how amazing it is that you can write the amazing, touching storylines and illustrate them so beautifully. I love what you do with lines in your work, and the expressions on their faces. Thank you for what you do. I'm glad you're not as sad as during the beginning of the pandemic!
Lopaka
Creativity is a difficult thing to maintain. You are doing fine job with it though. Thank you for sharing it with us. I do like your owls. The moose and owl companionship was great as with the creative owl. I am waiting for the next book(s). Thanks again.
Daphne Allison
Thank you for sharing your process with us, and for sharing your owl (and friends) who was always destined for something beautiful!
Emma Cann
Ah, love to see this!! Thanks for letting us in on the process!
Areashine
Or the owl hanging out with Myrtle?
Cee Chen
The owl comic vibed so much with me - thank you for bringing it to life! I'm in awe of the perseverance and effort it took!
Jack Terranova
I'm so happy you and barn owl both could return to the art so meaningful to yourselves and share that with the people who appreciate it. I also appreciate this behind the scenes post. I love seeing how art is made, and the logistics that add up to create the magic. Thank you for your art and for the tenderness you do openly hold toward the human experience.
Ula Janik
Thank you so much for sharing the process! I deeply resonate with that feeling that you write about where you realized in the meeting you’ve spent too much of yourself on this trying to explain to ppl with different goals and then push the project away for years. Oof! I’m so glad your owl came back to life and can’t wait to see the finished book. ♥️
francine
as someone who is not artistic and has no idea what kind of preparation goes into something like this, this is FASCINATING!! thank you for sharing it with us. you are so talented 🤍
Malena Astrom
Can we still get the owl on a hoody though? I’d like the picture of protagonist owl booting visitor owl out of his loft 🥰🤭
Raven OKeefe
a zillion thanks for this! i used to be an artist (until a farm took over my entire life), and i can totally relate to having drawers full of abandoned projects. we're all so lucky that the owls didn't stay abandoned! it gives me a tiny glimmer of hope that mine won't all stay abandoned forever. looking forward to the book❤️
Fran Parrett
Thank you for sharing this with us. Really interesting to see. So glad the owl story was shared with us and not the original project!
Lorraine McCrory
Thank you for this insight behind the scenes/story! Even your rough super sketchy sketches are beautiful. What a journey Myrtle has taken! So happy she arrived at just the right place.
Astartes Artorias
This is super interesting, I always enjoy an artist talking about his creative process and work including all the trouble that comes with it. And I am very glad that owl made it! Really appreciate your work Joshua!
pfreya
Ouf, pouring that much time and soul into a project that doesn’t pan out can hurt *so* much. It takes a lot of strength to remove yourself from a project that doesn’t feel quite right, kudos. It also takes just as much to then resurrect and reclaim that project and help it become what it needs to be! Sympathies for the struggles along the way, and a thousand thanks for sharing the project (end result and process both!) with us :)
Brandon Hayman
I love seeing this whole process and hearing the story behind the story. About a third of the way through Kneesvember, I was really getting into the story. By the end, I couldn't go to sleep at night until I had read the next page-my wife and I had gotten so invested! So, I'm happy you pulled it out of the idea drawer and it found it's way out into the world. Looking forward to the book!
Nancy H
it is incredible to me that your brain can hold all of this. i'm so glad the emotional owl came out of the drawer of shame and became this BEAUTIFUL and BRILLANT comic. love the process snaps!
Michelle Grenell
Thank you for bringing this beautiful story into the light. I can only speak for myself, but the owl, myrtle, and the understudy inspired me so much. They inspired me to fail, try again, and accept that my bone nests will not be everyone's cup of tea. And that's okay. I think this owl really speaks to you and your talented work too, Josh! This owl went from the bottom of a drawer to an inspirational masterpiece. <3
Kim Bond
Love seeing the process - thank you for sharing this!
