Today’s strip is late because I’ve been working on a bunch of stuff, work related, career related, and life related, and ran out of time to get the strip uploaded. The Surface Pro should help with time crunches, but this week, time was extra crunchy.

Speaking of the Surface Pro, I did all the pencils, and 98% of the inks for this strip on the Surface. I think I’m getting the hang of the smaller screen. I should probably try sketching on it to get used to it, but I just tend to sketch on whatever paper I have handy.

Regarding today’s strip, I am re-introducing a character from the old C&L today in an all new way, and that is Carl. Carl is a family man, and an old friend of Chippy and Loopus. In the new strip, he’ll have a slightly different role. You will see as it develops. I always liked Carl. Carl is the closest this strip has to a normal guy. He’d be the star of the strip in an alternate reality. As a matter of fact, I toyed with the idea of starting a strip that stars Carl and his family, but I thought that it would be too..typical. It would be “For Better or Worse” with ducks. That’s not exactly ground-breaking.

In other news, I’ve been doing too many all-nighters again. I’ll try to stop. I promise. Of course I say this as the sun comes up after a long night in front of the Cintiq, MadMen streaming on Netflix as I work.

Have a nice tuesday, people!

John

I truly hope you are enjoying the New and somewhat different Chippy and Loopus because I am having a ball!  Thanks for all the support you all are giving me and the guys on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! It is much appreciated! All I can ask is that if you like the comic, share it!
I must apologize for not being a better blogger. I will endeavor to be more consistent with my blog updates. I used to love writing blog posts! Now? I don’t know, I sit down and I don’t have anything to say. Well, at least not initially. Then, I look at Twitter, or Facebook…then, bam! It’s 6 hours later and time for bed…or time to draw the strip, or feed the dogs, or register the car…you see what I mean.

Anyway, I promise not to let life get in the way of blogging.

I have a new tool that may aid in this task: I recently purchased a Surface Pro tablet! Yes, I, John Sanford, lifelong Apple advocate and loyal Apple customer bought a MicroSoft product. Why?

Well, because they made the tool I needed. A long time ago, when the ipad came out, I waded into yet another “Apple VS PC” argument on Facebook. Someone accused Apple users of being a cult, unquestioning in their devotion, unwilling to try anything else. I stated that for me, this was NOT true, I used Apple products because for me, they work better, plug and play, no muss no fuss! Someone stated that the Ipad was a useless toy, to which I countered, it is NOT, as I use it at work everyday for work things, writing, making quick storyboard changes, etc. I did state, however, that drawing still was NOT ideal, and that the SECOND anyone makes a tablet with Pressure Sensitivity that will run a full version of either Photoshop or Manga Studio then I will buy the second I am able.

Well kids, that happened. The Surface Pro runs a full version of Windows 8 making it able to run any program that will run on a PC. Now, the pressure sensitivity thing is a bit of an issue in Photoshop…but NOT in Manga Studio. I bought one the VERY next day after hearing of this.

I love it so. I have roughed out the latest 2 strips on this technological marvel, and I’m learning how to ink on the smaller surface area. I’m getting the hang of it. Soon, I’ll be able to do an entire strip and POST it from a Starbucks.

Microsoft has made a wonderful artist’s tool. Apple? They let me down. With their staunch refusal to include a stylus or even produce on after market that would enable me to draw on my iPad as well as I draw on my Cintiq, they drove me right into the arms of the competition. I still have my iMac, and my iPad, although I use the iPad less and less. When I get a new phone next year, if the iPhone is not significantly better, I will pick up the Samsung Galaxy, the one with..yep, you guessed it. A stylus.

Hey, I go with whatever works.

Anyway, you artists out there should check out the Surface Pro. Go to Best Buy or one of those God-awful MicroSoft stores. Check it out. You will like!

John