I’m introducing a new tumblr dedicated to the “Grinder” comics series at [link] please follow that new tumblr … all Grinder episodes will be (re)published there (because it’s easier to read on mobile devices like iPhone, android and such)

[link]

Thanks!

For people who never worked in a call-centre, what is it like ?

Well, metaphorically working in a Call-Centre is a bit like being in a galley floating on the ocean - the structure is the same, the people on the phone  are the oarsmen, then there is a coach (or a team leader) in charge of the discipline, and the ship's captain (team manager) who goes around enjoying the view and the Ocean, afraid that either pirate would attack them or the slaves inside the ship would start an insurrection...

Logical step in my recent tests with MyPaint, I switched to Inkscape - certainly because I wanted to have a better control of the shapes and motifs is was drawing.

I mean MyPaint is great, simple and yet really powerful, but the result sometime is a bit of a surprise, it's like you never know what you will end up with. That's my feeling anyway.

On the other hand, Inkscape is perfect in aligning, resizing and grouping stuff, so I was happy to give a try for the making of Episode 029.

And what is the meaning of that strange title mentioning "The look of disapproval or disbelief"? Well, Fireworks ... really !?

Look of disbelief

This week, i've got the opportunity of writing one Episode of "Call Center Grinder" each day, what a treat this is for me!
I don't know how long it will last, but so far so good - the Season 2 is on track.

To my experience the most difficult thing is to be in the mood to be able to start the first comic strip, it's always the first that requires so much effort ; and once it is started the others are following with less and less efforts, that's what I called being on the wave ("Etre sur la vague") - at this particular instant, things feels easy and flows, but the most terrible thing I fear that can happen at this stage is an interruption, this is so painful ... because it means I'll be back to zero.

A little anecdote to illustrate the Murphy's law : I choose .gif format to post on my website [link] then on my blogs [link] and [link] since the comic strips are black and white gif is perfect for the job, file are really small in size.

But when it comes to DeviantArt, there it need a special treatment because dA isn't able to manage gif files ?!
it's no big deal but it's weird - and confirm for me for the thousands time that the Murphy's law exists just to put people back to reality
There's always something that gets in the way ... A tiny little insignificant bug that just spoil the fun.

Result of a little experiment with MyPaint

[link]

Definitely a fun application - perfect for quick sketch and interesting textures and effects.

Currently working hard on the Season 2 (next batch of 20 episodes)

Hi, I wanted to try Linux mint-10 "Julia" RC and accidentally messed up (but it's now fixed) my Linux portable.
Long story short, when I installed the new release on my usb key - it modified grub on the Linux portable (which was unexpected)
and I had to investigate and troubleshoot that.

Anyway as usual there was just 2 command lines and the all situation was back to normal.
I put all the technical bits and details on my blog

The conclusion is  :
- Make sure the Backup are recent (Murphy's law)
- The Linux Community was very helpful and point me in the right direction
- After the problem is solved, the feeling is really good because I've learned new things (especially about grub and startupmanager)

Jorgen was the last of my Call Center "Monster" or character study serie.
Still not sure who would be hired ...

I'm preparing another set of 20 episodes (that will be the season 2)
I guess my "modus operandi" will be 1 new episode, 1 old episode with dialog corrected.

Similar to the 24h comics, but on a 20 days timeframe.

I've started a web-comic series back in April 2010 - [link]
Because I've been working in Call Centers for more than 8 years combined - and needless to say I'm burned out completely (even the sight of a phone makes me shudder)

So far 20 episodes have been made (using Gimp and occasionally Inkscape) ; The initial plan was to do more than 40 ...

The nice comments confirmed that the web-comic describes the call center experience pretty well.
But "Call Center Grinder" has some pending challenges : dialogs, Grammar/spelling mistakes especially ; and three-point perspective issues (apparently)...

So what's the plan ?
* I will make the next 20 episodes (and probably more)
* Art will get better - just because I'm practicing every day, and trying various style you can check my gallery
* I'm also currently hesitating between a vertical and horizontal format ... can't really decide which one to stick with.
* But I'll need some help on the grammar/spelling aspect ... I'm French after all, English is only my second language ; of course I've been thinking of translating everything in French ... but I'm not too happy about this idea ; because I think the call center audience is mostly made of English speakers.

What do you think ?!

If you comment I will:

1. Tell you something I'll learn about you by looking at your dA page for 13 seconds.
2. Tell you which color you remind me of.
3. Tell you my first memory of you.
4. Tell you what pokemon you remind me of.
5. Ask you something I've always wondered about you, and your answer has to be as vague as possible to keep the suspense.
6. Tell you my favorite thing about you.
7. Give you a weird nickname
8. Tell you what's on my shirt right now.
9. Challenge you to post this on your journal.

previously found there [link]

Gimp is tough sometimes, the most annoying thing that continuously happens to me, is when I draw on the wrong layer, because currently layers can't be locked ...
it seems that this will be included in a 2.8 release
[link]

Yeeeeah!!!!

I added some digital painting made this month, they are made with Gimp
I'm using the GPS (Gimp Paint Studio) [link] made by Ramon Miranda

Hello,

Finally joining DeviantArt (I've been indecisive for many months, ... the time to read and fully understand the Terms and conditions page)  -
Anyway. I'll try to submit more arts later this week.

Today I've submitted the call center Grinder episode 001 - [link]

There's 20 more episodes already made (the goal is 40 (50 maybe)), you can check them at [link] but consider them as a work in progress (they include a lot of grammar "creativity" or worse). I'm French and writing in English is "assez rigolo" and it seems that I've started a personal resistance against English Grammar.

PS : last minute update, picked my comic as a favorite, Thanks man! I feel that I'm going to like this place