It Must Be A Sign

Sometimes you just need to draw monkeys

I went into work on Monday (I know, I’m retired but…) and as I pulled into the parking lot I got a text telling me to stay home and work on making signs for the store. Like many people my age (old) I was raised with the belief that if you are on time, you’re late. Anxiety makes this worse. After going in and chatting a bit with everyone I went home and started to work.

Here’s the thing many people don’t get- most people who draw stuff can’t just draw without actually thinking first. If you see me staring off into space that’s the first step to figuring out what to do. It’s not wasting time, it’s actually being efficient. From reaching out into the abyss and finding an idea I then go to my sketchbook and work it out. I try different iterations some big and detailed, others look like just scribbles. This was most of Monday.

Scribbles to get ideas figured out some worked, others not so much

I did get one sign done, but really wasn’t sure it was exactly what I wanted. So Tuesday rolls around and I’m back at the drawing board. This time (having spent Monday priming the pump) the ideas flow. I bounce from one to another, deciding how I want to add color and choosing the right type style. Some lettering is traced, others hand drawn.

Ideas sometimes get stuck in your brain. These will create a block for new ideas as you just have to get that one out before you can move on. The one that has been rattling around for a while dealt with variant covers. Fortunately the logo design once done worked for both concepts, but I’m still trying to decide is it the “Comic Variance Authority” or the “Cover Variance Authority”?

With so many Variants there needs to be someone in charge of it all.

Once the blockage was removed from my brain everything else was easier.

We jokingly have Star Wars and Star Trek housed in the same place. Still working out how to put this sign up… it’s two sided so it could hang or just be in the middle of the display

Next was an update to our Local Creator section… you’d think after living in Indiana for almost 40 years and teaching Indiana history I could draw the state outline… still needs work.

I did this on Monday but felt there was something wrong. Too busy? Not colored right… I don’t know.

Decided to try again and like this one more. Still may fix it in the future, but for the time being this is a keeper.

We have a section devoted to Godzilla. There is already a sign that is very well done, but is missing the Comic Carnival “branding” aka CeeCee the monkey. I originally had a battle, but decided to have them kind of saying “hey”

if you are in the Indianapolis area and would like to stop by Comic Carnival you can see this stuff up close, along with the monkey touches I’ve added throughout the shop. Next up: Batman, Superman, X-Men, mini series, Doctor Who, boxes, the Image trade racks and stand up of CeeCee. Stay tuned for updates.

All works are basically Sharpie and Prismacolor on Bristol. The CVA sign was done digitally and printed on card stock.