One

One issue to go. Not counting the extras

Still and sort of

Still looking for a spot for Suomaan kansan muinaisusko. Haven't really offered it to so many places, only two, but the problem is I sort of can't think of any that would be possible. Twice a month would be ideal, even once, same size as before or bigger. Yes, well if any (Finnish) paper comes to mind, let me know.

In a week

Issue 53 should be finished in a week. This means I have something like 30 pages left to draw of the actual book. Yes, really. Since the "notes" (more like additions) shouldn't be more more 50 pgs, I'm looking at October/November to have it all over snd done with. But the book version... With the pandemy and all I wouldn't wait for it before June 2021. But you never know. The French and English editions come when they come if they come. Pretty sure that there are no problems with the French edition but with the English edition, might take some time.

Closing

Issue 53 is very close to being done. Unlike issue 52 this hasn't been especially FUN to do. It's an issue which tie some loose ends and it's more about things I HAVE to do than things I WANT to do. This really has been a thing with Läskimooses: many things have happened just because I wanted to do them, many of them probably not entirely necessary for the BIG story. But maybe that is the big story? Yes, probably.
It has taken nine years to finish. Still, I would say, 60 to 80 pages need to be drawn. That includes the "notes". All should be done by Christmas.
And I already miss the world. Would very much like to continue the Suomaa strip, maybe in larger size, BUT that's a newspaper strip and doesn't look too much that any paper would like to run it. Have to look into it later this year. Some great untold stories there.

One

Now that there's ten pages and one whole issue undone I can tell you a bit more of the secret extra issue that I  have been calling the "notes". More like notes it's additions. Stuff that could've been in the thiginal run but for whatever reason wasn't. I will start to work on these 30 to 50 pages in September. The longest fragment is over 8 pgs and it reveals something extra of the adventures of Ohto Äijönpoika. Others are shorter.

I haven't any solid idea of  how these will be published. What I do know is that I will make the the material as if it was issue 55. With a cover and backcover and all. But will it be published as one, maybe not.

Now and then

So now we're here. But actually issue 52 is drawn and 53 halfway through. Really. Means that I will be starting on issue 54 (the last) in June. The "notes" will be 30 to 50 pages and no idea yet on how they will be published. We will check this out in the fall. What started in 2012 will end in 2020. For me at least. I do have the sequal started, which is the Suomaa strips, but those I would like to publish first in a newspaper and since there's no newspaper interested... Ee'll see. But Läskimooses (Fatso in English) will be out as a book in 2021. Probably will be pretty soon translated to French and maybe in English (have a contract). Then it's really over.

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Totally

Totally had it with the virus. Please, go away. Work hasn't gone too well due to lack of routines. Next week it will get better. Issue 53 is scripted and page 1 just about done. It's going to be between 26 to 32 pages. Calculated that I need 5 weeks for this one. Went through my archives searching for photos for the remaining backcovers. I have more more potential pictures than I have issues. Issue 53 is called a Tale Told by an Idiot and issue 54 is called Thendis. And that's it. The unofficial issue 55 maybe doesn't have a name. It's the notes so maybe I call it Notes.

Strange

Feeling sort of strange with only 2 issues remaining of this silly little book. Again today going  to cycle to the studio and get to work. This is the third week of not using the public transports. Work has proceeded. Yesterday I finished issue 52 and got started with the cover of 53. This issue is quite dialogue heavy and requires lot of writing before any chance of drawing anything. I would much prefer to move on to the "notes" with more liberties and fun directions and variety. These two issues remaining: for me there is not many surprises. Just plain work. Some interesting things to draw beginning of 53 and end of 54, but otherwise it's somewhat boring stuff ahead. Probably quite entertaining for the reader, though. Oh well. I dread the editong part that looms ahead in October this year. There are so many things I don't really like or would prefer to be nicer or whatever. Couple of spots with bad writing that I don't know what to do about. The drawing I'm not going to correct much.

Many things

Collecting stuff and ideas for the "next" book. Might not be exactly the text but still. Lots of things collected already and quite enough of material to make another 1000 page book. Not something I'm looking forward to. But there are other "ideas". Like what will I do with the Suomaa strip. Would like to publish it as a strip (sunday page) but not too many choices there. Not in Finland at least. And then the "notes" to Läskimooses. Those babies shouldn't take more than 5 months to do, but still. Still. Many things.

Plot

Although I don't think plot is all that important for a comic, I have been looking for one for my next book. Now it seemms I have it. Plot number one. I also need a secondary plot and that is still under consideration. Anyways good to be at this spot.

Details

Let's not go into details, but I have 3 issues lined up for scanning. Also means that only 3 issues remain. Started on 52. Soon soin.

In theory

In theory I could start a Suomaan Kansan Muinaisusko comic book that would come out once a year or twice
BUT I would need 1500 subscribers.

Absolutely

I have absolutely notbing to do with my so called "work". Just leave me out of it. I've already given my last interview. Forget me.

Don't know

Don't know yet much about my next book. Have some clues, though. The main character (if there is one) is female, maybe. There's a good likelihood that her name is Riittamaari Malva, a name that has been mentioned before in my comics. The action might take place in an art school. I really would prefer not to make this one 1000 pages, but it might go there. For now there's little sign of a plot. I will do some interviews to build up the world. Supposedly the story takes place in the 80's. Don't remember much of the 80's. For one I will try to define what makes a bad teacher. Not evil but bad. We'll see how this will play out.

Moment

I'm probably at the moment where I always wanted to be.

Tired

Too many things, too many people. After 3 day workshop the usual Angouleme turmoil, talking and talking. After tomorrow I will just stay quiet for the rest of the year.

Angouleme

Pieces

In the plane to France and on the train to Angouleme pieces of my next book start to fall in place.

Maybe

Well well 5 pages or so done of issue 51. Proceeding nicely. Next week will be spent in France. Meeting new students and some that I already know. Maybe I should some photos here maybe then.

Angouleme

Heading to France next Sunday. There's a workshop at EESI and I'm participating running it with Benoit Preteseille. Later the festival starts. It's a chance to meet friends I haven't seen in a long time. Also it's exhausting. Especially if one has some things that one feels one needs to do and seldom manages to do. This year there's nothing. That is also tiresome. Not really looking forward to that festival part. Travelling makes me uneasy. Prefer to get back home and continuräe the book.

Sort of

I sort of know what my next book is about, what kind of things I want to include and write about. But so far what I have are ideas for some loose scenes here and there, some philosophy of time and some talk of UFOs. This wasn't meant to be 1000 pgs, but the way it's going...

Shitty

Next I will do something that isn't shitty. Or then again maybe something that is shittier than shitty.

Läskimooses

Basically it's done you know. Started issue 51 cataract or no cataract. At this stage I really couldn't care less of any possible feedback. The next book is in a really nice stage. All set for the actual start. Can't wait. 4 issues and the notes remain of Läskimooses and I'm fine with that. It WAS interesting but not so much anymore. It will be concluded, don't worry, but don't expect ME to talk about it or explain what it was about.

Don't subscribe

Yes, now it's too late. You didn't get it. Don't feel bad, it wasn't made for everyone. Have a nice 2020.

Issues

For whatever reason issue 49 felt hard to do. Issue 50 now much easier and fun. Listening to Zappa for the second week and not at all bored. Yesterday at home I listened to Francesco Zappa for a couple of times and isn't it just great!

Final

Finished the (4 now) final Suomaa strip. Previously I estimated that there'd be 150 pages left of the story. Probably. Might be for the better that the strip ends. Some material coming up that might insult someone. Will I then conclude the story some day? Too early to say. There are other projects that I probably feel more drawn into. Time will tell, I guess.

Just

Just this: 2.5 pages done of issue 50.

Different

During the years I've come up with several ways to use scraperboard. And I love the material, much to discover. Somehow I still feel I would like to try something different for the next book. Pretty sure it wouldn't be digital, though.
Don't really know... I would like to continue drawing in the same manner that I've been doing, exploring.

Understand

I don't understand digital drawing.

Want

Want to
1. Finnish Läskimooses
2. Finnish notes
3. (Maybe) finnish Suomaa
4. Finnish the book after Läskimooses
5. Make it real good
6. Finnish 3 or 4 smaller books
7. Something
8. Something
9. Something

Week

Done with the week. Got started on issue 50. Yes, really! Mostly writing and some sketches. Also started to feel issue 49 needs an additional page so started that too. Pretty much ruins the lay out but what can u do? Oh, we will see. Now 4 some vacuuming and then onwards 2 the weekend. C u on monday.

50/50

Now that I'm starting issue 50... When this thing will be finished I've put something like 9, 9 and half years to it. Couldn't it have been 500 pages instead of  the 1300 or 1400 pages that it looks like now? And all along I've had doubts and I still have. Sure, I'm going to edit it but not in any major way. Or that is the plan. Anyways. 50/50 chance of it being worth it all.

Stop

I cannot stop the decline of art education, but I will try.

I think

Finished what I think is chapter 44 of Suomaan kansan muinaisusko. Moving along to 45. Which is the penultimate chapter. For now.

Preliminary

Eventually I will pose for these and take some raunchy photos that I will use as reference. These are just preliminary sketches to find out what I'm looking for.

Bible

It's not called the GOOD BOOK for nothing.

Years

Holmenkollen took something like 2 years to finish. Kekkonen took 4 years to finish. Silvia Regina took 5 or 6 years to finish. Läskimooses will take 9 or 9 and half to finish.
I would prefer the next book to be something I can finish in 3 to 4 years. Because this isn't quite human.

Plans

Making plans for the next book. I have a list of possible things I want to include in it. By estimate 200 pages of material and so far

No sign of a plot.

Five

Five issues left to do.

Mostly writing/lettering

From left to right: sketch for a tribute strip, script for Suomaa 44, Suomaa 44

High point

My favorite from the Suomaa run so far is the lament of Ämmä above. Many things planned, but might never come to be since the strip is cancelled. Shit happens but I take it lightly.

Let u know

I'll let u know when I do something half decent.

Ambitious

I have ambitious plans for my next project. Probably too ambitious for any normal publisher. So might turn to self publishing. Thinking of print runs of maximum 50 copies. Thinking of print runs of zero.
Don't necessarily feel that I would like my books to be read. Definitely not today.

Estimate

This is the latest Suomaa. The paper I have making this strip is changing format and dropping the strip. It's an ongoing story and I estimate that there's still 100 pages left to do to sort of conclude the story. But for now there are five chapters and that's it.
This will leave me more time for Läskimooses, though, so maybe it's good. The stories of Uro and Kale, Kellervo and her daughters Suruna and Nolona, Jusse the dreamer, Cinza-women, Uhlu and most impirtantly the mysterious hunter will apparently have to wait.

Think

I think I have 9 or 10 pages finished of issue 49. Been a bit sluggish, like some momentum missing. Well I have this flu or what it is and neck ache. Every panel finished is a panel less remaining. But these Mars stories will need something extra... a new groove. Do I still have faith in Läskimooses? Haha 8 years! Will be 10 before it's all finished.

Read

Read parts of one past issue. If I am to edit this thing, there are going to be things to do. No idea how much. Bigger part of the changes would be in the text. Maybe 90 per cent. Or 97. Some changes in wording. An occasional larger re-writing. I would say nothing major. Another thing is how much I will correct the rhythm which would mean adding panels/pages. Not to mention the notes that I have now divided into two: Suomaa and then all the other notes. The other notes, will they belong to the work in such way that they need to be within it? Suomaa will be a separate book (books). These kind of things and I'm working on 49.

Now

Classes going in full steam. Saturday saw something that'll be pretty great in year or 2. Läskimooses 49 is on the move. Three pages finished. Was a bit hard to start and the humidity still going on is making drawing harder than I'd prefer. Scraperboard will be destroyed in no time at all. Sometimes like this.

Classes

Classes starting and maybe this semester too many. Feel a bit exhausted. Also I would like to have more time with the students, for the moment the courses are quite thight with . Not enough room to breath. It has been slowly getting worse. When I started the maximum student count was 12, now it's 16. Just too many to manage. Hoping this will drop in the future. The people deciding these things...I don't know who they are but pretty sure they never were on my class.