Hi, and welcome to the bonus content for flowerhead! It’s mostly old versions of pages and commentary. If this is your jam, then enjoy! – izzy
SKETCHES
Most comics in flowerhead were first sketched in my trusty sketchbook, in order to ensure a more clear vision of the joke and to properly visualise the pacing.
Because the events in the comic are based off of real life, they are often done moments after they happen, extremely rushed, and are barely readable.
CUT COMICS
In the case of most collections, there are some things that have been cut out. I think cutting things out is an important part of the creative process, and anyone who has dealt with the hell of printing knows that even multiples of four are the way to go.
But why did I cut these ones out in particular? The city one is kinda bleak, and the illness one is too vague, plus I already have one about a doctor’s appointment, so I don’t want people thinking I’m ill all the time.
FIRST DRAFTS
When I started flowerhead, I originally wanted to use the calligraphy pen and embrace this kinda scratchy style. However, over the course of making these comics, I became slightly annoyed by the pen shape, its lack of clarity when lettering, and switched to a round brush for the final version.
Some notes about the changes:
– I think dog toes works better as a joke in this version? The “joke” being that it’s such a detailed comic with weird and whacky angles for such a stupid thought. The actual version was made when I was obsessed with the clip studio Tone Pattern (the “Ben-Day dots button” for you nerds out there), which inadvertently made the quality a little shit? But it’s a comic that requires insane detail like drawing the inside of a train, so I’m not redo-ing it. Screw the bit, I’ve got stuff to do.
–doctor’s appointment is the only instance of me breaking the design of my persona, giving her a mouth.
-Yes, the realistic face in cosmosis is my real face, kinda. Drawing my own face is often a 50/50 of looking like my face. This was not one of those times (the version in the actual comic is though)
COMMENTARY
cover: who knew i would have something to say about the cover? Anyway I think I referenced a poppy plant for this? The layer is long deleted so we’ll never know. The choice to make the text separate untimely through the image is an aesthetic I like, though I know it’s not the most legible. I go through phases of making my art accessible and then deliberately non-accessible, and this was one of those times. Sorry!
introduction: I was thinking about linking my comic here on this website, but my deadname is there so much, and it’s so cringe, so you’re not getting it. Sorry.
tattoo: This is one I originally posted on my Instagram, and it for sure works better in that format, though I think I made it work in six panels. Whenever I write a whole buncha text in a panel, I often don’t anticipate the reader to read it all; I know when I’m presented with a wall of text, my eyes start skimming. It’s intentional, it makes the ramble-y nature of the thought more ramble-able. Though, if you read the whole thing, you’re a star.
Also that guy exists. To give him some credit, it was in a handwritten font, which was presumably one of his parent’s? From memory he also had the names of his family tattooed? The southern cross tattoo was on his leg though, harder for a dramatic reveal so I changed it. I drew that comic while he was on the bus with me. If you’re ever on the Red CAT bus in Perth, watch out.
apocalypse: The first comic I drew with the intention of making flowerhead! Still one of my favourites, because it is truly insane that it happened. I edited the text from “going through a breakup” to “going through it” because I’ve learned first-hand that projecting personal problems online is a BAD THING that REALLY DATES YOUR WORK and STOPS YOU FROM LOOKING AT YOUR OLD WORK. Also I lie, I didn’t say “at least it isn’t the end of the world”. I think if I did I would’ve blown up or something.
You know how some people pretend their life is a movie? Apparently mine is directed by Joss Whedon. Not fun, lemme tell ya. Truly, the most “erm they’re right behind me” joke of the set.
medical appointments: This happened specifically when waiting for my first HRT appointment! It went fine, though I guess, because I’m not on HRT yet, it didn’t go exactly according to plan (see the mentioned heart problems in kebab).
Could I have drawn another 16 versions of me being confident and then anxious? Yes, but I did not want to. See, I know you expect the artist to craft their work until it is perfect, unfortunately for you if we all did that, you would not have any art to enjoy.
burnout: “Oh you’re a musician where can I find your work” ON THIS WEBSITE!! but also on this website. Also yes I know the trombone doesn’t look like that, but the trombone was also designed for beings with a neck. This is what the trombone would look like if we were all brick shaped. You’re welcome.
Also, because I love putting in effort into things that definitely don’t deserve it, the sheet music in the first panel is actually composed by me! It doesn’t sound good : )
pronouns: If I could insert video clips into comics, this is the one I would put.
This happened when I was supervising the bouncy castle (oh man I wish there was a comic about that YOU FOOL THERE’S TWO AND THEY’RE RIGHT HERE). He didn’t look like a Trump supporter, more like someone just discovering their love for cabaret in their 50s, but Trump supporters are (1) a simple shorthand to insecure masculinity, and (2) very easy to draw.
cosmosis: If you like this sorta stuff, I highly recommend the prologue to the Cosmic Dance by Stephen Ellcock. Honestly the book starts off so promising, and then kinda stops and goes “pwetty picturess” which is… fine. I guess.
But yes, if you’re interested in this type of thinking, read up on esoteric alchemy. Then maybe read up on Chaos Magick. Then come talk to me, because you sound cool and fun to talk with.
generation z: Not much to say here. I do love the slumped me in the 5th panel. Peak me drawing. No notes.
kebab: This is the comic that you may notice some of the text is traced fonts. Specifically the comic sans for the little devil on the shoulder guy. I just think bad influences would speak in comic sans. It’s like dramatic irony (joke).
This was the last comic I drew! Probably why it’s one of the more out-there comics of the bunch, because my life isn’t as eventful as it seems. Between each comic is truly about a month or so of lazing around.
insomnia: This happens to me too frequently. Like I wrote and drew it, observing it with great detail, at 2AM because I forgot to take my meds. And for any of you pill-bottle truthers, no that’s not what my pill bottles look like. I know it would be illegal to sell that many melatonin like that. It’s my Vitamin D tablet bottle, because it’s more clear to show in a comic.
alumni: A hard joke to pull off when your persona is so abstract they don’t wear clothes, but that’s why I’m the best in the bizz. And to be fair, a lot of people still think I’m at uni. Which is fine, I give off uni student vibes.
shaving: The one non-jokey one (that also was on my Instagram first!) I wrote this a week before my first laser hair removal session, and my mum came up to me and asked me if I still wanted to get my face lasered because of this comic (the answer was yes, the ritual is nice but I never want a beard ever please and thank you).
dog toes: It could’ve been much better, I think this is the only one I like the previous version (scroll up) better than the current. But oh well. Not everything is perfect. Deal with it. Shut up.
I can’t find a satisfactory answer to why dogs have toes in the first place other than evolution. I mean, why do we have toes? It’s a lot to think about.
izzy french. 