I have used a digital sketchbook for going on two years. It took me a while to find the right software; one where I was more comfortable using on the fly than wading through the interface. Then I took quite a period of time weening myself from my black book and the warm spot that it occupies in my heart. To be quite honest I still use my black book from time to time, but by and far most of my serious sketching is now done via my pad and laptop.

My sketches started to take a turn a while ago. I was influenced by by another illustrator (Tommy Kane) who uses a combination of words and pictures to round out a visual journal. It appealed to the “inner” writer in me and opened up a new direction in both my writing and my drawing; which I see as right and left hands of a unified vision that takes place in my head. Writing helps me picture the drawings in a more clear way. Drawing adds the detail that I sometimes miss while writing. It is strange how the two work together.

Anyway, I have taken a few of my sketchbook drawings and combined them with the writing inspirations they are paired with (which comes first; I can’t remember?) and formed a sort of web comic / e-book. I have dubbed it “Artiste Gullible’s travels in the here and now.” I spent a long time tweaking the web interface (I used a blog format and scripted template called Comic Press.) and it is now ready for inspection. I hope to publish once a week, but I already know how that will turn out — still it is a goal worth pursuing.

When I get more than 10 posted I will start to promote the site and see what I can do to build readership.