"Christmas is coming" - a Christmas card

**Bob Hahn** · 04 November 2005, 04:00 PM

Okay, maybe a little early but it's not like I'm mailing them out now! Just posted to show I'm ready.

This will be our Christmas card of our dog and cat. As you can see, Boss is psyched. Rosie, well, she just feels silly.

-Bob.

**Koinonia** · 04 November 2005, 04:27 PM

Great characters!

Is Rosie buying all the presents?

Happy Holydays!

Wayne

**zee** · 04 November 2005, 04:33 PM

Bob,
I love your stuff.
Zee

**sallybode** · 04 November 2005, 06:09 PM

You've got a great cartooning style and those who aren't so into Christmas cheer get the rest involved, despite how Eeyorish they may be, right?!?!

**John Rayner** · 04 November 2005, 09:56 PM

Yep.... that is another thing to do... christmas cards... At least the wife has lots to send out if I do make one good enough for her.

**gwpriester** · 04 November 2005, 10:38 PM

The Boss has the same set of choppers that Wallace of Wallace and Grommet has.

Gary

**RTK** · 05 November 2005, 12:28 AM

Bob,

Your characters are so expressive! This one is a lot of fun!

Is the line work (mostly) scanned ink? It looks really good!

**Bob Hahn** · 05 November 2005, 01:59 AM

Thanks for your comments

Risto, the line work is all done in Xara. Nothing was scanned. I did want to create a look as if it were done with a brush pen. The line work is a combination of thick and thinner "sketchy" lines.

Don't know if this is a useful information or not, but the line work is not always a continous line but several lines. As you can see in the graphic, the eye is created with several lines. You will have to edit or shape your lines from time to time, but they don't have to be perfect. It really gives it that look like it was drawn by hand and not by computer - if you're going for that look.

The majority of the line work is with an ellipse shape line stroke. I also use a drawing tablet. Can't draw with a mouse.

-Bob.

**OklaEd** · 05 November 2005, 03:07 AM

AMAZING

**Kman** · 05 November 2005, 12:49 PM

Bob, this a wonderful, happy card/artwork.

May I ask you 2 questions about your work ?

(1) I have heard that artists create their original art in a
larger size (such as 4x or 2x that of the "final"/presented
version) . . . so that any potential flaws would be harder to
notice. I am definitely not saying your art has any flaws.
I'm just wondering if you typically make your orginal art larger
than that of your final, presented work ?

(2) How do you typically set up your layers ?
Do you usually place your "outline" strokes topmost, with
the filled shapes in seperate layers below ?

Thank you for the cheer and do keep sharing.

Ken