Western Page

[Nick Pitarra]

An editor contacted me with an 8 page western that they needed illustrated ASAP. The first page was needed with a super quick turn around, the rest was on a relaxed schedule. I liked the script so I put my paying work on hold and I pulled an all nighter and penciled and inked this in one sitting, just under 8 hours. It's not my best but I'm happy with the speed/quality ratio. I worked entirely at my girlfriends kitchen table..with one board...microns...and a pencil. I usually use crow quils...blueline pencil...light box and a drafting table....and spend about twice as long on a single page. Anyways, did it all ...was really impressed with myself.........and then the writer turned it down...oh well life goes on. Let me know what you guys think.

~nick


http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/2312/outlawterritorywestermtorrespi.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Scud-O]

The horses alone are worth all the time you put into the page.

--Eric

[Nick Pitarra]

Thanks scudo!

That makes me feel alittle better about myself.

[Tucker_680]

the horses are good, but i luv that express on the guys face in panel three

sucks the writer turned it down, but you gotta let us know when we can pick up your stuff, i'm looking forward to seeing you stuff in print.

[joe calkins2]

Good stuff man. I need someone for a long term project. What are your rates for a penciled and inked page?

[MrGranger]

Looks good.

[sevans]

That's some very good work. When I first saw the page I thought that I was viewing an old Missionary Man page by Frank Quitely. Take that as a huge compliment.

This would have looked great in print !

[VANDAL]

Nick,,you know i love your work man,,,i think the main issue here was the transition to the last panel. The storytelling there confuses the eye. I had to look it over a few times to figure out that the cowboy who threw the TNT is actually getting on the horses and clearing out. I would have shown the cowboy not with his back to the viewer but his head turned but rather shown him full front throwing his leg over the horses and the horses starting to move either to the right or left of the panel depending on the next page placement. You are a spectacular artist Nick, i knew that right away so dont take this personally or anything.

[Larry965]

Nice work on the page. But in my opinion to make the page flow a little better and to cut down on the confusion, I think you should add a panel between panel 2 and panel 3 and have the cowboy lighting the TNT with his cigarette. Then have a panel between panel 3 and panel 4, where the cowboy is starting to run over to where the stagecoach is parked. Other then that, nice page.

[Nick Pitarra]

Thanks for the nice comments and suggestions guys. I should have done allot of things differently, but I was trying to get done over night in one sitting. I cut allot of corners and picked the easiest layout. I mean if you think about the last panel...it should tottally be a profile with the guy jumping on the drivers seat of the carriage. If you look at my lay-out...it was set up as "the easiest way posable"...I mean I didn't even have to draw more than half a face of a horse or even a wagon wheel...for a shot that called for a guy stealing an entire carriage. And panel 3 was originally set up as a pull away....with the dynamite hitting the middle of the saloon floor...with an entire background and everything...but i just didn't have the time.


I don't think I'm allowed to reveal the script (or the art for that matter)...but here's a summary of this page.

Panel 1-Close-up of cowboy (mexican),clint eastwood cigar in mouth, crows feet turn into light scaring on his face. He is molded by his envoronment.
Dial-"My Name Is Roberto"

Panel 2- Roberto walking with dynamite in hand...approaching a saloon.
Dial-"I only come to texas for 2 reasons"

Panel 3- Dynamite crashes through saloon window.
Dial-"To drop something off..."

Panel 4-Roberto jumps into drivers seat of carriage in a hurry.

Dial-"...or to pick somthing up"

The whole story is simple ...to the point ...and matter of fact...its a great read and only 8 pages. The anthology had some good up and comers and some semi-pro's attached to it...so it would have been worth the 8 page investment. Finally I find a writer I like ...and wouldn't you know...he's not a fan of my art.

Thanks for all the replys guys.

Best,
nick

[Nick Pitarra]

Oh yeah as far as page rates go...I'm not allowed to say (contract)...but it's not allot...especially for pencils and inks. I've had numerous other companies offer me the same. I'm just scared to attach myself to a project that I can't see all the way through(I'm still in the running for the wilsstorm talent search...they still haven't picked a winner). You'd think by what I make now I wouldn't be able to feed myself...but I keep getting fatter.

210 lbs and Counting,
nick

[VANDAL]

Email me Nick,,it's not paid work but could possibly change your life when it becomes that. vandal1z@yahoo.com

[Caio Reis]

Good work! You have a nice clean style and work fast, very fast! Appart from the storytelling problem, the other thing that caught my attention was the girl face; you could do better. As for the rest it's really good. :thumbs:

[RedDragonUK]

Very nice line work I like it.