OUTLINE:

The Tale of Four will be a comic written and illustrated by as many people as I can persuade to participate.

Each week a willing participant will have one week to complete the 4 following tasks.

Each participant can undertake these four tasks as many times as they please, provided that a minimum of three other participants have done so in between.

The aim is to create an imaginative and unpredictable, yet coherent and paced story, with artwork that is varied in style yet with characters which are recognisable throughout.

NO SPECIFIC STYLE OR ABILITY LEVEL IS REQUIRED: IT’S MOSTLY JUST FOR FUN.

THE FOUR TASKS:

	| | COLOUR | V	| | INK | V	| | SKETCH | V	| | WRITE | V

1) Colour the third to last filled square (which should already be inked but not coloured) you can use any colour scheme and media you like. It need not be consistent with previous squares.

2) Ink over the sketch in the second to last filled square. Don’t use any colour. Try to keep any characters looking consistent with previous squares and the existing sketch, but feel free to experiment with the style. Use a waterproof pen such as a permanent marker to avoid problems when it’s coloured. Finally erase the pencil sketch.

3) remove the post it note from the last filled square, and use a pencil to Sketch in it (and transcribe any dialogue) your impression of the contents of the post-it. Try to keep any character’s looking consistent with previous squares, but otherwise use your imagination.

4) Write some dialogue and/or description on a post-it note and stick it onto the first blank square. Try to be clear and consistent, yet use your imagination.

BEFORE STARTING:

Read the existing comic.
Try to make sense of it.
Then read the annotated version.
Hopefully this should answer any questions.
If not, then contact me and I'll do my best.
Write on the annotated version any point that your interpretation of the comic is different from mine.

NOTES:

The phrase “last filled square” is used for the square with the post-it note attached.

If the square being described by a specific task does not yet exist, go on to the next task. There will be chances in the future for another turn.

When I feel the time is right, I will specify an empty future square as the last and all following participants will have something to work towards.

There may well be art materials in the folder. You are welcome to use any of these or not to. It is better to make sure the pen you use is waterproof though.