Introducing our new artist for Battle Panda 3!!!

Published: Sun, 05/12/24

Hello , so it's with great honour I get to introduce you to our newest team member, the artist for Battle Panda 3.

I put out several posts on various social media channels looking for a new artist. When I have previously done this, I typically get between 4 and 8 applications.

This time I got 36 applications

This time round, I got a staggering 36 responses to the application form, with as many people DM'ing me across the various social media channels.

There is an incredible amount of talent out there.

It took three rounds of reviews.

First we made a long list of the top ten artists who we could work with - lots of discussion to make that into a shortlist of four.

Four seemed to be the right number to be able to interview.

Then, right at the last minute

The intent was to ask two of the four to do an art test.

But literally at the last moment before the application deadline closed, we got a couple more applications.

It was the second to last application that we got. I looked through this artist's portfolio, it was something else. I literally organised a call with her at the last minute.

Her name is Crystal Pandita - I know the surname Pandita, must have been a sign (given how close it is to Panda).

So, now I have three artists doing an art test. I set a deadline for that the following Thursday, all of them came in on time, without me having to follow up.

All three art tests

I asked them all to do the same page from issue 3 of the script.

As you can see they were all very good, in different ways.

The first art test page art test that came in - we really loved the clean inks and characterisation.

The second art test, was also very decent, I really liked how this artist had captured different expressions on Leo and on the crocodiles - very clever use of switching the colours around on panels 4 and 6.

The third art test, that came in from Crystal, she just really smashed it out of the park for me.

So I asked my brain circle for their final thoughts.

And wouldn't you know it, it was a tie between the first and the third candidate.

So it came to me to make a decision, kind of like taking the last penalty kick, hoping that there would be a clear winner before getting to me.

I decided long and hard over this and chose to go ahead with Crystal.

What I really liked about her work was

her dynamic storytelling,
exciting frame flow and
how the action breaks out of the frame at just the right time
I also like the thickness and edginess of the stroke work
it bought a different kind of energy.

Art work update

So far, we have completed the layouts for the first sequence of the book.

I'm happy to say that the dynamic storytelling that I selected Crystal for, is shinning through in the layouts - I'll share some of those shortly.

We have highlighted 3 hero panels from the script of issue 3, which we will use in the upcoming Kickstarter campaign (see below).

Crystal is currently penciling the whole of the first sequence - she is really great to work with - the whole team and I are very excited to see her work.

Get ready for Battle Panda 3

I have had the project approved by Kickstarter in the past few days.

I will shortly be sharing the pre-launch page - keep a look out for that in a subsequent message.

And then we will be in Battle Panda 3 Kickstarter season.

These books happen thanks to your support, I never take your support for granted, so truly, deeply thank you.

It's going to be a great ride, I'm so happy I get to share it with you.

Farhan

3 Quick and easy ways to support independent art

1. Please consider supporting my Buy Me a Coffee page here -> https://www.buymeacoffee.com/FarhanQ

2. Recommending your friends to sign up to the mailing list is the best way for the audience to grow - they also get a free Digitopia Comic Book Preview, here's the sign up page

3. Follow me on any of the social media platforms that I'm on - all links below.

Farhan Qureshi
www.comic.digitopiafilm.com
follow me on twitter - https://twitter.com/farhanq_uk

Tunst
London Surrey CR0 6TU
UNITED KINGDOM

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