Words of Wisdom from Space (Coyote)

These are the collected tweets of Nina Matsumoto, more frequently known as space coyote. For up-to-the-minute action, check out her twitter page. As the stuttery nature of multi-tweet statements is rather bothersome, I've added some punctuation and squished together tweets where needed.

Manga Pet Peeves

manga pet peeve #3 -- though this applies more to webcomics and OEL manga -- TOO MANY CHIBIS! instead of chibis, draw a funny facial expression/pose or a more creative type of "super deform". It will increase your art power

manga pet peeve #1: old people who look like young beautiful people with nasal labial folds and baggy eyes (common in shoujo mangas). Study old ppl! Look at famous stars past&present e.g. Clint Eastwood http://i37.tinypic.com/jtmf... features change subtly over time! we do more than simply wrinkle over time. Older people have fascinating faces and are fun to draw. Don't fall into the shoujo manga trap. I DO like shoujo manga, by the way. I just think it's ridiculous when a teenage girl's father looks like this: http://tinyurl.com/y96wmec

one of my biggest manga pet peeves: everyone looking exactly the same (save for different hair styles and clothes). I admire Yuusuke Murata of Eyeshield 21 for designing so many characters who all look very different from each other. aspiring manga artists: please study people! Real people! We are all built differently and our facial features are arranged in many ways!

manga pet peeve number I'velostcount: too many screentones. Give my eyes room to breathe, please. I see a lot of aspiring manga artists who suffer from Screen Tone Dependency. Break the habit!

manga pet peeve number five: Kubo Tite... look guys there are a ton of things I dislike about Kubo Tite's art (and writing) but I'm not going to get into it. Let's talk about good things instead, like @laurbit's Help for Haiti commissions! http://bit.ly/d2B6xp

@MaximoLorenzo re: cartoons vs anime, let's just say I'm tired of artists claiming they "improved" because they "stopped drawing anime." There are many amazing technical artists who draw in anime style. It's an insult to say "I'm better now b/c I quit anime" or "you'd be better if you stopped doing anime". Some ppl use anime style as a crutch, but non-anime is used as crutches too. Kudos to you! I see more & more artists ditching/rejecting anime/manga influences instead of adopting/embracing them... I've felt pressured to drop manga style in the past. But I stuck with it 'cause I love it. Now I draw manga for a living! -- no matter what country you're from, there's no reason for you to feel ashamed of being artistically influenced by Japanese cartoons

On Equipment and Technique

I'm no tool geek but I swear by this mechanical pencil: Pilot's Dr. Grip http://tinyurl.com/lusxxw More lead is produced not just by clicking but by giving it a shake. Makes for non-interrupted drawing. The large grip is good for my wrist. the only problem: now every time I use a mechanical pencil, I shake it to try to get more lead out like a fool

been using non-photo blue pencils for the pencil roughs in Last Airbender so far. Makes for much cleaner sketches! yes, I am ALWAYS behind when it comes to using the correct art tools. The entirety of Yokaiden vol 1 was inked using disposable pens. this is why you should never ask me for advice concerning comic tools. I am clueless.

pen and nibs put too much strain on my wrist for long term use. Back to Rapidographs

ah, inking. My favourite part of the comic drawing process

Distinguished and professional comic artists like myself use only tools of the highest caliber, like white gel pens. I hope I go down in history as the comic artist who used the least amount of "proper" comicking tools

wow Paint Tool Sai is really fun. I need to start using it

I must begin saving up to buy myself a Cintiq

I don't think I could ever get into using one of those manga-making programs like Manga Studio, etc., but then I don't even like digitally drawn speech bubbles, borders or sound effects. Something about the raw look of handdrawn ones. I think I'd only ever use one for screentones.

I don't get why people complain about characters looking crosseyed in cartoons/comics. It's a classic cartoonist's trick! To make a character's gaze look more direct and focused, you make them a little crosseyed. It's used in western AND eastern cartooning. Look at any Dragonball character, Sonic the Hedgehog...okay those are both Japanese examples but you get the idea. Making a character crosseyed isn't always a "mistake". It's a common stylistic choice in cartooning. Forgive my weird gripe...I just don't think "the characters look crosseyed!" is a valid crit

The satisfaction I get from doing an accurate life drawing must be akin to that of a mathematician solving a hard forumla. (I suck at math) "Yes! The proportions are correct! Everything's falling into place the way they should! Negative and positive spaces look right! Ahhh"

http://twitpic.com/16ar90 - study sketches of men in suits, because suits are hard to draw but make for good clothing practice

Art Theft

why do people ask me permission to link to my pictures? "art theft" witch hunts have rendered people super paranoid about doing anything past looking at a picture online without permission. repost: my stance on "art theft" http://bit.ly/1vnnsd

Misinterpretation, Confusion, and Cultural Differences

I think it's important to note Yokaiden isn't meant to be historically accurate much because it's the yokai that matters, not the setting. if I had to put up a caption at the beginning it would say "At some vague point in history, in some Japan-esque setting." I'm sure readers get the idea from all the anachronism! But then I've read reviews from people under the impression Yokaiden is a drama. I think it's safe to say my work pretty much never takes itself very seriously. Yokaiden is full of fairy tale tropes so the dark subject matters within are treated as lightheartedly as they are in fairy tales. One of the inspirations is "Shita-kiri Suzume": http://tinyurl.com/cftgqr

from the twitter replies it seems like it's a cultural difference thing. Grandmas in western culture=instant sympathy. In Japan, not so much. Seems like in western fairy tales, a family member has to be a STEP family member to make them evil. Like if Grandma were a step aunt instead of Hamachi's actual grandmother, her evilness would probably be more acceptable.

No guys, my dragon pic has nothing to do with Airbender. I just wanted to draw a dragon yo! Though now I am tempted to draw+upload a bunch of sketches and go "this MAY or MAY NOT be related to the Airbender prequel" each time.

Personal Works versus Commissions

One thing I like about Yokaiden: it is so very... "me" and true to the things I like. This can be good and bad 'cause I have strange tastes but I'd rather be successful with a creation suited to my own tastes rather than someone else's, which is why I don't ALWAYS enjoy doing commissions. Some clients have made me think "if you don't like my style, why did you hire me..." Mind you, most of my clients have been awesome and very fun and easy to work with and for that I feel blessed! Sometimes I miss those days

most of my life I have said "there are two things I can't draw: boats and monkeys". Now I'm having to draw a whole lotta boats

On being a professional

I was told I'd get the script for Last Airbender by the end of July. Then, the second week of August. But it hasn't come yet. Worried... I'm concerned about the increasing lack of time I'm being given to work on the Last Airbender comic

"[A professional is] someone who has a deadline" -Naoki Urasawa

Looking back at the last two years, I've barely done any art compared to, say, 2007! Then I have to be reminded that in the last two years, I drew two manga books. Oh, and in the early part of 2007, I was living off commissions. So I guess it makes sense.

getting back into a roll after being made to stop working for a few weeks is hard

Nov. 3, 2009 - I can't believe I penciled 100 comic pages in a month and a half. The final stretch will be the inks. Deadline is SUPER TIGHT so I hope I can up my speed but keep the quality. I'm working as fast as I can. But first, the pencils have to be approved by the studio. Hoping that won't take too long

Nov. 16, 2009 - dear penciled page approvals: please hurry up and come to me ASAP so that I'm able to get the inks done on time

Nov. 20, 2009 - work status: still no word from studio about pencil approvals. Still worried about deadline. Distracting self by doing FF6 fanart

Dec. 16, 2009 - Airbender prequel pencils have been approved by Paramount, finally! I can begin inking at last

I have to work during the holidays but I love my job so WHO CARES

Jan. 8, 2009 - 45 out of 100 pages of Airbender inked in 12 days...not bad I'd say!

Jan. 27, 2010 - also, only 11 pages away from finishing the comic

Feb. 2, 2010 - today I finish the Airbender comic -- It took 105 days. I've finished drawing all 100 pages for the The Last Airbender Prequel comic. I've never worked faster on a comic in my life. Tight deadlines are scarily motivating.

On being e-famous

I am wondering if I'll ever get to do an interview where the subject of Simpsonzu is never brought up...

I love meeting Saturnalia fans in person. Cool to know people have been following me for so long

Identity Crisis

Yokaiden 2 listed in this brochure: http://tinyurl.com/l6zdz5 "Story Locale: Japan Author Hometown: Japan" I am not from Japan >:U

one Yokaiden reviewer described me as "a Western fan of Japanese culture"...hmm

nor am I an "American author" which so many sites describe me as. Let it be known that I'm Canadian!

@debaoki I pronounce it "MANG-guh"

"ROUNDTABLE: What is Manga?" I can't say I agree with many of the things said here: http://tinyurl.com/ck5cas

"what's manga" discussions hurt my head because I'm Japanese but born in Canada so I'm always hovering in a grey area!

by some ppl's definitions, what I do can't be called manga. But... I kind of doubt I can market it as a non-manga comic. I'm not trying to emulate anything. I just do what I like and what comes naturally to me. I grew up reading manga so the style stuck with me. I've tried adopting a more western style before and it just wasn't fun.

if Americans had a kid in Japan, and said kid grew up there and drew American superhero style comics, is it manga

@aicnanime Can't we call everything comics? "Monster" is a Japanese comic. "Yokaiden" is a Japanese-style comic. Everybody's happy?

if I were born in Japan....would my comic be considered more manga then??!

haha, even in Vancouver '09, people still assume I'm from China. Mistake my nationality: fine. Assume I wasn't even born here: what?? reminds me of when I was in Japan and someone there asked if I'm half white

Is it okay to be offended when a telemarketer/service rep on phone, upon finding out I'm not Mr. Roommate, immed. assumes I'm MRS. Roommate? -- because it never fails to happen and I hate the assumption that "woman living with man = GOTTA BE HIS WIFE" -- strictly platonic close friendships between a guy and a girl is a common thing in my stories because I hate assumptions like that -- also the only times a stranger assumes I'm dating/married to a male friend of mine is when HE'S asian as well -- @Dave_was_here "That is because most people marry within their race." Not here in Vancouver, one of the most multicultural cities! -- it's nearly 2010. Forget flying cars and food pills. I demand more acceptance of social diversity

my style gets called everything from "unique" "unlike any other" to "generic" "like a How To Draw Manga book". Art's subjective, man

Guys, seriously? Just 'cause I have "coyote" in my name doesn't mean I'm a furry. So please don't "ruffle [my] fur" when you email me.

I used to hide my nationality until people began accusing me of being a white American "wannabe anime artist" then I'd be all "but I'm Japanese". THey'd go "oh then it's okay for you to draw manga/anime." But that's dumb. -- no matter what country you're from, there's no reason for you to feel ashamed of being artistically influenced by Japanese cartoons

Money

Canada Council for the Arts rejected my travel grant request. Guess I won't get any reimbursement for my SDCC trip. I was warned that they're biased towards the "finer arts" like paintings and novels, so not too surprised, but still disappointing. also had to turn down a Bongo Comics job because I'm going to be busy with Airbender. All in all, a bad day for me in regards to money

Random

I don't like using hair dryers. I get nervous when I aim towards my head a vaguely gun-shaped tool that blasts scorching hot air

I have just discovered the greatest anime: FIGHTING FOODONS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LbWWx80ZPA

I mentioned Usuta as an influence in the chat. One thing I love is how the cover art to his tankoubon volumes are always artsy, dramatic...which doesn't reflect the super silly, absurdist humour contained within at all. I wish I could do that with Yokaiden (and I sorta do)...however I'm not famous enough to get away with such a thing. ...Yet.

@miranareveier I want comicbook tees for women that aren't Wonder Woman on a pink babydoll. Give me a modestly fitted Punisher logo shirt

"Dragonball Evolution" (2009): 45 million $s can feed 500,000 children in Africa for a year, but it was instead used to make this. THIS.

Target Women is a must-see for anyone tired of sexism and bad ads and/or looking for laughs http://bit.ly/3Ochqx

video: All Creative Work Is Derivative http://questioncopyright.org/minute_memes/all_creative_work_is_derivative

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