Glad to see the art appreciated. As I stated previously, Shelley has been studying the inking of classic comic artists, to get the feel of a classic Dick Tracy. The cross-hatching and inking are all done by Shelley. Joe’s pencils have cross-hatching, but often it is redone so that it will appear better on a small strip. Many of the fine details get lost when the strip is printed. Shelley has to balance the detail with what can actually be seen. I guess I just want to say that, yes the drawing is all Joe Staton, but the inking is all Shelley Pleger. As a proud husband, it is hard to stay quiet. Rant over.
To clarify, I am NOT saying that Shelley should get all the credit for the art. She has said herself, that she can’t draw Dick Tracy. Joe has captured Tracy and made the character his own. He is close to Gould’s Tracy, but he will always be Joe’s Tracy. Shelley is just taking the art Joe creates and enhancing it. Here is a video I found on-line that demonstrates what I am talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksbLDSlpD2I
I would love to link you all to the original pencil sketch, but my wife would delegate me to the couch for a year if I did. (grin) Besides, it is Joe’s pencil sketch and technically the property of TMS, so I would get into other trouble as well.
Glad to see the art appreciated. As I stated previously, Shelley has been studying the inking of classic comic artists, to get the feel of a classic Dick Tracy. The cross-hatching and inking are all done by Shelley. Joe’s pencils have cross-hatching, but often it is redone so that it will appear better on a small strip. Many of the fine details get lost when the strip is printed. Shelley has to balance the detail with what can actually be seen. I guess I just want to say that, yes the drawing is all Joe Staton, but the inking is all Shelley Pleger. As a proud husband, it is hard to stay quiet. Rant over.
To clarify, I am NOT saying that Shelley should get all the credit for the art. She has said herself, that she can’t draw Dick Tracy. Joe has captured Tracy and made the character his own. He is close to Gould’s Tracy, but he will always be Joe’s Tracy. Shelley is just taking the art Joe creates and enhancing it. Here is a video I found on-line that demonstrates what I am talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksbLDSlpD2I
I would love to link you all to the original pencil sketch, but my wife would delegate me to the couch for a year if I did. (grin) Besides, it is Joe’s pencil sketch and technically the property of TMS, so I would get into other trouble as well.