Also (I'm read-and-posting for TT #27, obviously) -- Father's Day ??? Just how fucked up IS the timeline?

And when the hell did Raven's hair get so long all of a sudden?

I just read Klaus Janson bitching about the lack of respect for inkers. I did agree with him at the time, but this month's TT is like an object lesson.

And when the hell did Raven's hair get so long all of a sudden?

Considering the character has grown a second set of eyes on her forehead in the past and it took her teammates weeks to notice, I'd not be too surprised by minor changes to her appearance that don't seem to make sense .

One thing that bugs me about that Klaus Janson interview is that he's as dismissive of photography as an art form as he complains others are about inking:

It really doesn't take that much talent to have your friends pose for pictures and then trace them off. That lacks a point of view, the artists' point of view, and that's what I want to see.

I think a fair bit of Alex Poss' artistry, for example, is in the composition of the photos he poses as the first step of his work. I'll admit it's a valid point regarding artists such as Greg Rucka who choose stilted photos by other people to trace from. But I think Ross and Bradstreet have artistic vision every bit as strong as Terry Austin or Paul Neary.

But Klaus says he uses photoreference as well -- so I don't think it's comparably harsh.

And I do think that what Neary does lacks a PoV, and what Ross does doesn't.

I'm not sure why I don't consider Ross photorealistic (since that's Janson's main beef), but Neary's work is, IMO.

Maybe Ross's photos are better? No, that's not it, either. The use (and I don't get the trace impression as strongly either) is a small part of what he does.

Ross' style overwhelms the photo-trace aspect. I don't blame any comic artist for photo-tracing (short deadlines, not paid enough to create original art for every frame on every page), but Rucka seems to try to stick close to the look of the source, mildly adapting for the context of the comic. Ross not only sets up his composition from the get-go, he works to make the art look Rossian. He adds dynamism, feeling, emotion, etc.

I'm about Rucka's level as an artist, and I know how far away from me Ross is.

(backing out of thread now since I had to give up comics last year)

I so didn't mean Neary in my post above -- I meant Greg Land.

Maybe Ross's photos are better? No, that's not it, either.

I think part of it is.... I remember in my art classes, the teachers talked about mirrors and photos not always working as subjects because they have a tendancy to flatten out the image, and it will show through in your drawing/painting.

Alex Ross seems to be consciously compensating for that effect. I know his images are photo-traces, but he's able to re-3-D-ify the photos, adding depth and sharpness to the image.

Gregs:

Rucka = writer, went to college with JZ. Responsible for OMAC, Wonder Woman, Adventures of Superman, half of Gotham Central, large portions of No Man's Land, Cry for Blood, and some other nifty stuff, including Queen and Country. Novelist, seems to have a thing for writing honest-to-L7 dykes, lives in Portland. I think I own all his novels save for Smoker. Writes women well, good first person voice.

Land: artist who lives by his lightbox.

Sorry, just had to clarify the Gregs. Like one, not too keen on the other, but would take Land over Leifeld any day.

That's what I get for typing while chatting with my guests. I'd clicked on ita's link, then kept googling for more of the artist's stuff, and then as I was working my reply the guests came in, so I was trying to do two things at once, when I suck at even doing one thing reliably.

(really leaving now)

Hey, Astounishing AND Serenity next week!

Also, it looks like the next new Powers isn't coming out 'til mid-September.