
posted 19th Aug 2011, 7:35 PM
My Reading List Chester 5000 XYV (NSFW)
Extra Ordinary
Girl Genius
Girls With Slingshots
Gunnerkrigg Court
Hark a Vagrant
Hyperbole and a Half
Khaos Komix (NSFW)
Lackadaisy
Menage a 3 (NSFW)
Nic Buxom (NSFW)
Oglaf (NSFW)
Penny Arcade
Questionable Content
SMBC
Something Positive
The Meek
Wapsi Square
XKCD

Kink Positive Sites (NSFW) Calico Lane
FetLife
Freedom of Fetish
Kink Academy
Male Submission Art
Maybe Maimed
SM 101 General Hilarity LGBT Laughs
Zero Punctuation
Hi everyone, both old and new!
I recently wrote a update about my recovery on my Tumblr. I recommend bookmarking it so you can be privy to the latest GH news.
I really appreciate the support and emails I've received from you. I read all of them and do my best to answer all of them. Please give me a few days to get back to you.
I am chomping at the bit to get back in the saddle, despite my stupid arms. I'm currently trying to figure out how to go from digital to traditional media. Traditional takes about 1/5 of the time digital does and therefore causes a lot less stress on my arms. However, I'm not sure how to replicate the smooth lines and clean style I am able to achieve with my tablet (as you can see above, ick). I'm currently figuring that out.
I also don't have a scanner, so I either need to buy one or find a Staples or something. Adventure time!
Thank you, Danielle Corsetto, for the vote of confidence and thank you, my readers, for reminding me why I started Garden Hose in the first place.
Fern
PS- Old readers know this but for you new readers, feel free to email me with any questions about GH or the kink scene in general. I try to be as helpful and attentive as possible :)
reader comments
19th Aug 2011, 7:52 PM
elle ayelle
Wandered over here from Girls with Slingshots. Welcome to my "New to Me Comics" spot.
19th Aug 2011, 10:35 PM
Jim
You can do it, Fern! If your arms are giving you trouble, look into better arm supports, a better chair, wrist cushions, and all that. There are things you can do to fix it. :)
19th Aug 2011, 11:40 PM
Unka John
I've got faith in ya Fern. Hang in there.
20th Aug 2011, 1:43 AM
PB
I have a question for you - after ending a 7 year relationship with a deviant, how is one supposed to find new deviants in a town of about 150,000? During our relationship, we both went from "having used rope a time or two in the past" to pretty hardcore kink. I met her because she was my bartender, but I don't really drink anymore...
-
I'm putting this message here instead of in an email to you because I don't actually expect you to have an answer for me - I just saw an opportunity to vent a tiny bit of frustration.
By the way - I'm new to the comic, but I'm enjoying it. thanks.
20th Aug 2011, 6:28 AM
Renoized
I also wandered here from Girls with Slingshots. I hope you get better soon, this comic is great! :D
20th Aug 2011, 12:49 PM
Holokai
I'm glad you're feeling better Fern! Congrats on the link and new people!
@PB Go to Fetlife.com- its like facebook for kinky people. Arranged by locations, kinks, etc.
20th Aug 2011, 6:17 PM
Promethea
I came here from Girls With Slingshots too.
Where´s your drawing slave when you need it?
Don´t strain yourself, hun. The comic is great, but we´d rather see you getting better instead of some crappy drawings followed by you being forced to quit.
21st Aug 2011, 11:23 AM
PB
I've been checking out fetlife last night and this morning. Thanks to both Fern and to Holokai for the push. I'm kind of in an unhealthy "shun all human contact" sort of headspace right now, but it's certainly interesting. By coincidence, last night was a munch - but there was no way I could make it on such short notice.
Anyway - when I'm ready to start mingling with other humans I think I'll attend an event with those folks.
Thanks again.
22nd Aug 2011, 2:24 AM
plums
At the risk of giving you extremely basic advice that you already know, a good way to scan things in cleanly is to do it at a much higher resolution than you want the final product to be, play with the brightness/contrast (or perhaps levels) in Photoshop so you only get solid black lines on white background, and then scale the image down to the desired size.
Using your Tory drawing above, I just upscaled it, adjusted the levels, then scaled it back down, and ended up with https://imgur.com/hOMr5 . This took me literally one minute; if you spend some real time on I'm sure you could get much better results.
HTH and sorry if this is all old news to you!
22nd Aug 2011, 9:30 AM
M.
I just read through the archive and love your comic so far! Being fairly new to the kink world (as of last December) it's great to read about people just doing their thing, in and out of scene. :)
22nd Aug 2011, 12:30 PM
Jennifer
I just stumbled across your strip via a link at GWS. I have been in the kink community for only a few years now but my friends and I have had some many conversation about some og the things you have covered. I can't wait to see more!
22nd Aug 2011, 1:34 PM
D
Like others, I have been sucked into your comic and have GWS to thank for finding my way here. You comic is wonderful,like a breath of fresh air. Thank you.
22nd Aug 2011, 2:01 PM
Shaman
You're awesome, Fern! Hope you get well soon so you can bring the kink back into our lives. I'd definitely suggest getting a cheap scanner at Wal-Mart or someshit. I LOVE your traditional art as much as your digital stuff and i'm sure i'm not alone thinking this. Do what is best for you, we'll be delighted in getting kinked any which way that suits you. You da DOM!!! ;)
22nd Aug 2011, 6:35 PM
Guest
I hope you feel better soon!
One way to draw more clearly and smoothly is to sketch very lightly in pencil (light blue for best results) and then use a gel pen or fountain pen (just not your standard ballpoint. G2s are pretty nice for this) to go over the sketched lines to makes smooth, clean lines. Then when you scan it in at an overly hi-res, you can screw around with the contrast and brightness to make it look better. Screwing around with the contrast and brightness is always helpful, but inking it with pen does make it smoother because it hides the really sketchy lines.
26th Aug 2011, 3:13 AM
Gin
Hope you feel better!
I dunno what would be considered wrong with the line art in this update, but I'm a bit biased toward a more sketchy style of art. It's your strip, so most definitely it's your choice. Just thought I'd throw my two cents in.
Again, hope you feel better!
28th Aug 2011, 10:53 AM
Charlie
I got linked by GWSm and love the comic so far! I do look forward to your return to full health :)
28th Aug 2011, 4:29 PM
Fern
Hi helpers,
I actually do know how to process images. The above image was taken with my iphone since, as I said before, I don't own a scanner. And playing with the levels like that takes out all the nuances and personality of line weight. I would rather relearn proper inking techniques with traditional means.
@ Holokai: Thanks for helping PB!
@ PB: I hope FetLife can help you branch out and connect with like-minded folks. Holokai did just what I would do.
31st Aug 2011, 10:49 PM
Amythist
saw a link to this the other day, might be an idea to keep the traditional sketching style but still be able to generate digital work http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXbBA1DRE84
if your worried about the link just google the "Wacom Inkling"
1st Sep 2011, 3:31 PM
Emma
Hi!
A scanner isn't a very expensive piece of equipment. However, I can understand that it seems a lot if you have *very* limited funds. Why not have a "Donate" button on a page, or sell off some of your original artwork in order to raise the necessery money? It has been done before in the world of online comics.
Best,
Emma
1st Sep 2011, 5:10 PM
Xoer
WACOM JUST announced that they are coming out with a new product in late September that lets you draw traditionally but then transfer the sketches into the computer via USB
6th Sep 2011, 7:03 AM
Your Readers
Are you planning on writing any more, or have you finished? it's been a month since the last update... is the comic over?
12th Sep 2011, 10:12 AM
LP
No dying, Fern.
8th Oct 2011, 8:36 PM
Reader
It's been 2 months since your last update... is the comic over?
9th Oct 2011, 11:54 AM
Carla
I couldn't figure out how to comment on tumblr :( Anyway, I hope you found something but if not, check out modcloth.com! I've never bought anything from there but enjoy window-shopping. Some of the coats have similar silhouettes even if the descriptions are sickeningly cutesy :P
Really enjoyed reading your comic, and hoe you feel better soon!
9th Oct 2011, 10:22 PM
Hello?
I really hope you are feeling better. And if not thats just fine! but if you could please post some sort of update, either informing us that the comic is over, or just letting us know that you are still trying to find a better way to draw. Because I think I speak for most of your readers whenI say that I love your comic and of it's going to take another six months of recovery on your part, that's fine. But two months is the limit of my patience for getting absolutely zero information on the future of a comic.
18th Oct 2011, 10:37 PM
Jade
Dear "HELLO?" person who commented above me,
I would just like to inform you that you do not speak for me. As someone who does not pay to read this comic, you don't have any right to rudely demand updates for information. The artist doesn't owe you anything. If she wants to keep us updated on her progress and recovery, that's awesome. If not, that is her prerogative. I for one have "absolutely zero" qualms about waiting however long it takes for the artist to feel comfortable drawing again. Kindly climb down off your high horse, or at least stop assuming that other readers are as rude and selfish as you are.
Thanks!
6th Nov 2011, 6:37 PM
Your Bro From Another Ho
I would like to add to jade's statement that HELLO? really needs to read and see that she posted a link to her tumblr account which oh how convenient is where everyone (except for you) is kept up to date on the recovery that being said best of luck with the remainder of your recovery