This is such a great resource for comics making, and I have shared your inspiring and informative thumbnails and process work with my students in multiple semesters, including just a couple weeks ago!
Thank you for sharing your amazingly hard work on this project. I had no idea. It’s so helpful to see behind the scenes how things are made. Congratulations!! You’re so talented.
This is incredible! The Great Gatsby has been my favourite novel since I first read it at 18. I love that you've turned it into a graphic novel so that many more people can fall in love with Gatsby, Daisy and Nick just like I did (graphic novels being more accessible than the originals).
And thank you for sharing your process, so cool to get a fly on the wall look at how much work goes into your books. - Katherine
What a fantastic behind the scenes journey from initial drawing to finished page! Great job, old sport! ;) Did Gatsby's character design give you any trouble, since he's not described much in the novel?
Thanks, Mark! Gatsby I based on a handsome man I found in an ad for arrow shirts who it turns out Daisy references Gatsby as looking like near the end of the novel! But that was a coincidence!
Thank you for all your posts on graphic novels! These are always so helpful. I am a picture book illustrator who is about to start working on her first GN pitch. I am wondering what your thoughts are on using Procreate/Photoshop to illustrate a whole graphic novel. Is that crazy? Lots of people tell me that CSP is the way to go, but since I am not really familiar with it, I wonder if I should just stick to what I know or if it really streamlines things that much better that it would be worth learning it for this project?
I'm so glad you enjoy my posts, Kristin! You could definitely use PS or Procreate to do it--lots of people do. I'd lay out all the pages in InDesign or Affinity to keep track of the flow of the pages to make sure you're getting the pacing right.
Thanks for sharing your process! I also love those reference photos. On the CD of The Incredibles movie they show how their illustrators act things out this way. It's always fun to see behind the scenes process!
Thanks, Mr Noob! I came up with the idea and created sample art which I pitched it to an agent who pitched it to a publisher.
Gatsby came into the public domain in January of 2021, and I believe I thought of it in 2018, so I had enough time to make it and for it to get published January of 2021.
Yes! It would have been illegal—breaking copyright laws. Tuck Everlasting isn’t in the public domain and so was done with the collaboration and permission of the Babbitt estate.
Unfortunately not. My spouse is an attorney and did a lot of research on this, and we consulted with a IP attorney too. IP law is complicated and more complicated in the US than other countries.
This is amazing!! I am obsessed with those acting out photos. Such a fun and also practical idea :D
Thanks, Sarah! It’s so helpful and speeds up the process so much!
Me too! Also so smart!
Thanks, Ann! 😊
The reference photos 😆. I have so many of these on my phone too 😆
Yeah. Mine are mainly on my computer and so hilarious.
Great detail and insight into your process. Love the self photos for reference. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Ian!
This is such a great resource for comics making, and I have shared your inspiring and informative thumbnails and process work with my students in multiple semesters, including just a couple weeks ago!
I always love the reference photos, especially when I’m not in them! 🤣
Ha! I get that!
Amazing feat, thank you for sharing your process, and ‘great acting!’
Ha, thanks Adam!
Thank you for sharing your amazingly hard work on this project. I had no idea. It’s so helpful to see behind the scenes how things are made. Congratulations!! You’re so talented.
I’m so glad you find it helpful, Ann!
This is incredible! The Great Gatsby has been my favourite novel since I first read it at 18. I love that you've turned it into a graphic novel so that many more people can fall in love with Gatsby, Daisy and Nick just like I did (graphic novels being more accessible than the originals).
And thank you for sharing your process, so cool to get a fly on the wall look at how much work goes into your books. - Katherine
Thanks so much, Katherine! It was one of my favorite books too which is one of the reasons why I was interested in adapting it.
What a fantastic behind the scenes journey from initial drawing to finished page! Great job, old sport! ;) Did Gatsby's character design give you any trouble, since he's not described much in the novel?
Thanks, Mark! Gatsby I based on a handsome man I found in an ad for arrow shirts who it turns out Daisy references Gatsby as looking like near the end of the novel! But that was a coincidence!
Oh wow, what a perfect coincidence!
Thanks so much for sharing. I love reading about other artist’s process. Your GN looks amazing. Congratulations!
Thanks so much, Janise!
Wow! It sounds like you lived in a parallel universe for all those hours 😊
Ha! Sometimes it felt that way.
Have such a fun week!! So cool that you’re at Gatsby “ground zero” and can easily participate/contribute your work!!
Thanks Anna! Yeah, it’s going to be a fun week!
I've updated it now, but I had a date typo with my Books & Bar Event: It's April 15, NOT April 10.
Thank you for all your posts on graphic novels! These are always so helpful. I am a picture book illustrator who is about to start working on her first GN pitch. I am wondering what your thoughts are on using Procreate/Photoshop to illustrate a whole graphic novel. Is that crazy? Lots of people tell me that CSP is the way to go, but since I am not really familiar with it, I wonder if I should just stick to what I know or if it really streamlines things that much better that it would be worth learning it for this project?
I'm so glad you enjoy my posts, Kristin! You could definitely use PS or Procreate to do it--lots of people do. I'd lay out all the pages in InDesign or Affinity to keep track of the flow of the pages to make sure you're getting the pacing right.
Oh yes. Great idea. Thank you! And congrats on Gatsby! It looks amazing!
Thanks for sharing your process! I also love those reference photos. On the CD of The Incredibles movie they show how their illustrators act things out this way. It's always fun to see behind the scenes process!
Thanks Alece! I think I’m going to do a post soon on the reference photos. People seem to love them!
This is wonderful! And especially that you detailed your process for this.
I have a couple of questions:
- Did you get commissioned to make this? Or Pitch this yourself?
- How does copyright work in this case? Do/Did you need like an approval or license? (I am assuming Disney-esque law applies in this case too?)
Thanks, Mr Noob! I came up with the idea and created sample art which I pitched it to an agent who pitched it to a publisher.
Gatsby came into the public domain in January of 2021, and I believe I thought of it in 2018, so I had enough time to make it and for it to get published January of 2021.
I see, thanks for detailing that, K!
If it weren't in the public domain, by the time it was published, would that have complicated matters?
Yes! It would have been illegal—breaking copyright laws. Tuck Everlasting isn’t in the public domain and so was done with the collaboration and permission of the Babbitt estate.
I see!
Would it not fall under the Derivative work part and thus having different rules? Like the chap who famously drew Coca Cola bottles / soup cans?
Not arguing, I am curious - as you've been on both sides of that "copyrighted/public domain" divide.
So if one made illustrations of an artist's work as into a book, wouldn't there be new work and thought put into the act itself?
Unfortunately not. My spouse is an attorney and did a lot of research on this, and we consulted with a IP attorney too. IP law is complicated and more complicated in the US than other countries.
I see, thank you for sharing that detailed experience! Appreciate it, K!