This graphic novel is about the first animal shelter in America and its founding by a woman activist in late 19th century Philadelphia. I took on this project to further develop my storytelling skills and bring a balance to my visual-verbal synergy. At the start of my project, I was prepared to physically illustrate in black and raw sienna ink with a quill pen to bring authenticity to the comic. After researching the details of events, gathering visual inspiration for the historical setting, and adapting the information into well-paced panels, I decided to speed up my workflow by illustrating spreads on a new-to-me digital program – Adobe Fresco on an iPad. With photographed references of myself and my rescue dog, this retelling of the first animal shelter truly became my own.
Initial Sketching and Brainstorming
First Set of Thumbnail Sketches
Second Set of Thumbnail Sketches
Cover Structural Drawing
Spread 1 Structural Drawing
Spread 2 Structural Drawing
Spread 3 Structural Drawing
Digital Inking and Progression
Development Round 1
Development Round 1
Development Round 1
Development Round 1
Development Round 2
Development Round 2
Development Round 2
Development Round 2
Development Round 3
Development Round 3
Development Round 3
Development Round 3
Development Round 4
Development Round 4
Development Round 4
Development Round 4
Development Round 5
Development Round 5
Development Round 5
Development Round 5
Final Development
Final Development
Final Development
