Bringing The Airship Andalusia to life! - The Process Creating a graphic novel takes time, creative energy, and lots of patience, especially if you are the artist and designer and renderer, layout artist and writer and editor! I have immense respect for anyone involved in such artistic endeavors - no matter what your role! In 2020, The Airship Andalusia - Return to Seven Moon Crossing will be three years old. When I set out to create a steampunk graphic novel made entirely with 2D and 3D software, I had no idea that three years later, The Airship Andalusia would become: One story Two books (so far…) Six special features 29 characters 988 pages 4,505 frames 67,184 words When Book 3 - The Land of Dust and Shadow is released later this year, those numbers will go up yet again! I have been asked how it all gets done. The image accompanying this post explains the three-step production process. The process that I use to bring The Airship Andalusia to life is lengthy, laborious, and (in some cases) laughable. But, it works. There is ongoing conceptual design, worldframing, and storyline development that occurs prior to the art design and production. In order to achieve the desired look, feel, and impact of the unique art and original story, there are no shortcuts. I believe that with any artistic endeavor, shortcuts should never replace staying true to your artistic vision, no matter the cost in time and resources. So, I will endure the extended image rendering times, detail-oriented post-production work, mind-numbing writer's block, and page layout challenges -- all to come as close to achieving my artistic vision as possible. Realistically, it's never going to 100% achievable, but I will (ahem) settle for 97%. To The Airship Andalusia's fans (all three of you!), admirers, critics, and the "WTF-is-wrong-with-her-legs" haters: Book 3 is on the way! There will be more story and more art to enjoy, criticize, rant about, and hate. Yay! As with the other previously published books and features, Book 3 will continue the story of Polonius, Lady Penelope, and crew of the Airship Andalusia as they cross the Carthagian Badlands for their Summer Solstice rendezvous with the SpiritWalker at Seven Moon Crossing. "The lessons of the past and the promises of the future lie beyond the Land of Dust and Shadow." Chapeau! #Steampunk #TheAirshipAndalusia #CreativeProcess #WTFWasIThinking