Mickey Moves Up A Side Canyon In The Dragoons

April 8, 2016
   In addition to my video class on "How To Draw," I am taking two Great Courses on writing compelling narrative and "techniques and exercises for crafting a plot that grips readers from start to finish," by James Scott Bell (no relation). Amazing how little I have known about something I have claimed to do—writing and writing—every day of the week for the past 45 years. I will give a full report when I can come up for air, but in the meantime, let's look at where our one-eyed captivo is at present. Mickey Free is on the hunt for one of the Apache prisoners who killed Sheriff Reynolds and his deputy Hunkydory Holmes. Trailing Bach-e-on-al down the San Pedro, Mick soon intuits the killer's destination. He waits until the wee hours of the morning when he knows his prey will be asleep, and, hobbling his mammoth jack, heads out on foot.

Daily Whip Out: "Mickey Moves Up A Side Canyon In The Dragoons"

  This is straight out of my sketchbook. Here's the full page, done this morning over breakfast:

Daily Whip Out: "Mickey Free Sketches_04.08.16"

      I am channeling Moebius here. You know, this guy:

From "The Collected Fantasies of Jean Giraud: Moebius 2"

   I assume Moebius is a pen name? And, by the name, Jean is perhaps French? I don't know much about him, but in my humble opinion, his brilliant work has long been the gold standard for graphic novels and few, if any, have matched his superb draftsmanship and saturated colors. Any other advice, Mr. Bell?

"Keep Writing."

—James Scott Bell

"Keep drawing."

—Alexander Graham Bell