Back to the world of the livings, in the cemetery, everything is calm, birds are singing, flowers are flowering... And suddenly, with a magical BAMF, Madeleine stumble back, tripping over her own feet until she managed to stop. She try to catch her breath, hands on her knees, then straighten up with a laugh, ready to start again with François. She realize she is not in the world of the dead anymore and look around, taken aback. She slowly lower her arms, looking at her hands and wondering if she dreamt it all... Until, on top of her family's tombstone, she spot Francois' hat.

Ok, ok, I missed the deadline of Halloween to finish #SwingMacabre, but I promise! We're nearing the end !!
(also, new tablet, my brushes don't know what to do with this whole new pressure and inclinaison sensitivity)
#storyboard #digitalart #clipstudiopaint

Seven panel comics from the Project Swing Macabre. 1st Panel: Francois, a happy skeleton dressed like a fool is grinning wide, proudly standing with the words: Proud of himself around his head. Madeleine, a young woman in a black sweater is looking at their feet, hands to her mouth, looking mildly horrified. 2nd panel; Francois (he can't talk) scoot closer, worried. Madeleine has a little smile for him. M: What? Oh no, no it's fine! 3rd Panel: Francois looks at their feet, like Madeleine who tries for nonchalance. M: This is... Let's go with touching. 4th Panel Madeleine lean toward François, putting a hand to his bony shoulder and talking with a smile. M: It's just... when I was talking about making heart shapes with your hands... 5th panel Madeleine show François how to make a heart shape with her thumbs and forefingers. Francois flabber is gasted. M: I meant: Line this! 6th panel: Madeleine now cradle François against her side, putting a consoling hand to his head. Francois seems sad to realize his mistake. M: Not... this. 7th panel, view of Madeleine and François's feet, with a big heart shape made with François fingers bones on the ground in front of their toes. M: Look, let's put your hands back together and I'll show you how it's done, deal?

BD de 7 cases pour le project Swing Macabre Case 1 François, un joyeux squelette habillé comme un fou du roi sourit largement, avec les mots 'Fier de lui' autour de sa tête parce qu'il est effectivement fier comme Harpagon. A coté de lui, Madeleine, une jeune fille en pull noir regarde vers le bas, les mains sur la bouche, vaguement horrifiée. Case 2 François (qui ne peut pas parler) se penche vers Madeleine, inquiet. Madeleine lui fait un petit sourire. M: Hein? Oh non, non, c'est bien ! Case 3: Madeleine et François regardent à nouveau vers le bas, cette fois, Madeleine tente la nonchalance. M: C'est... Disons, touchant. Case 4: Madeleine se tourne vers François et pose une main sur son épaule d'un geste amical. M: C'est juste que... Quand je parlais de faire des cœurs avec tes mains... Case 5: Madeleine montre à François comment faire un cœur avec ses pouces et ses index. François n'en revient pas. M: Je voulais dire: Comme ça ! Case 6: Madeleine prend François contre elle, posant une main consolatrice sur sa tête en montrant le sol de l'autre main. François semble triste de son erreur. M: Pas... ça. Case 7: Vue du sol et des pieds de Madeleine et François, devant lesquels est posé un cœur formé des petits os des mains de Francois. M: Ecoute, on remet tes mains en état et je te montre comment on fait, d'accord?

Swing Macabre - Halloween comics !
François is TRYING, ok?
Modern slang is hard to get when you're + 500 years old...
Happy Halloween to everyone !
#SwingMacabre #Francoisthecutieskeleton #HappyHalloween #Halloweenmicrocomics #gallowhumor #humournoir

François put down Madeleine gently on the gallows but she isn't stopping. She drag him around to keep dancing and after a little moment of surprise, he follow. He twirl her around, dancing along the beam, until they reach then end and he just sweep her off her feet and, after a goodbye sign, throw her away.

Ok, it's the 19th, I have 11 days to finish #SwingMacabre. It's been hard to get back at it, but now, LET'S GO!
Also, I never thought I would let Francois yeet Madeleine like that.
#storyboard #digitalart #clipstudiopaint #Francoisthecutieskeleton #dontyeetyourdancepartner

François jump on the next beam, twirling Madeleine again, they take her in his arm, jump to the last cart's beam and then take off like a rocket, leaving a befulded ankou and happy Graces. Meanwhile, the orchestra is still playing, surrounded by dancing skeletons. On of them spot something, interrupting the music. The trumpet player raise his intrument, while the spotter raise her arm, asking others to do the same. The music start again, louder. Francois, Madeleine still tucked in his arms jump prom one trumpet to another, punctuated with loud honks from the music. Madeleine is delighted, laughing out loud, to Francois' pleasure. He crouched on the last trumpet and take off again, jumping high enough to land on the gallows.

I'm back on work for #SwingMacabre ! Sorry for the delay! Temp works was hard this month.
#digitalart #storyboard #clipstudiopaint

The Mourner help Francois take off, then wave them goodbye, while his friends are coming back. Both Francois and Madeleine rise to the sky, Madeleine holding onto Francois like a baby koala to its mother. They reached the top of the curve and Francois take a moment to smile to her... before fallign down with a laught and a scream. Meanwhile, the three graces are helping the Ankou. One is taking care of his horse, while the other two are searching for his head and hat. The cart is surrounded by dancing skeletons. The mirror Grace put back the Ankou head, while the comb Grace bring him his hat. There is a sudden bell noise that make the Ankou jump and all three of them look up, to Francois who is falling right onto them, Madeleine trailing behind him. He gracefully perch himself on one of the cart's beam, then swing Madeleine on the next one, where she barely get her equilibrium back.

Trying to follow Francois is like riding a skateboard onto a roller caster: You'd better hang on!
#clipstudiopaint #storyboard #swingmacabre #francoisthecutieskeleton

François lead Madeleine after him, no leaving her time to say goodbye. She hastily wave to the White Lady who answer back and has a little giggle at their hasty departure. Meanwhile, the Mourners are trying to straighten after the Francois powered hustle. Their chief is helping another one to their feet, and then turn around, hearing François's bells coming closer. Still running, with Madeleine, Francois point to the sky. The Mourner reach out to them but their friends decided to scramble away instead. Francois turn to Madeleine, embracing her for a twirl and suddenly lift her up as if she was a feather. Taken aback, she grabbed him tightly while Francois take flight, helped by the Mourner.

Ladies, gentlemen and everyone else, we are taking off! This is the before the last part of the story !
Also, yes, we're also taking flight.
#SwingMacabre #storyboard #clipstudiopaint #digitalart #storyboard

The Lady hold her hand under Madeleine's face, to feel her breath, to Madeleine's surprise. she then tilt his head, intrigued and softly carress Madeleine's cheek before straightening up. The Whit Lady nod kindly and François seems very happy of her answer squirming in joy, to Madeleine's surprise. He bow deeply, pulling at Madeleine, then straighten back, jaming his had back on his head and then start to turn, with a bewildered Madeline wondering what's happening this time.

Well, seems the lady agreed to something.. but what?
#SwingMacabre #storyboard #clipstudiopaint

Madeleine catch herself on Francois and throw him a puzzled look, but he just take his hat off, bowing to the person they are facing. Madeleine noticed a shroud clad skeleton, riding a bone horse and holding a sword. The White Lady turn her horse toward them and look at them, regal. Francois straighten back then start showing Madeleine, holding her hand to the White Lady, as if imploring her. The White Lady bend over them, extending her hand toward Madeleine.

Swing Macabre page 17
Even François behave in front of the White Lady, this tell a lot about her, doesn't it?
(But, in truth, they knew each others for a long, very long time)
#SwingMacabre #clipstudiopaint #storyboard #NoAI

Character sheet of a character for Danse Macabre. On the left is a skeleton entirely covered with a white sheer shroud, including on her face. her hands are crossed in front of her in a very lady like manner and a big large sword hang from her hip, tied with a white sash. On the top row left, there is a close up of her face wrapped in her shroud, the skull is only half way visible in the sheer material. Top right, a sketch of the Lady and Francois, Francois giving her a kiss on her hand with exaggerated movement, his hat hold behind his back. She look as poised and elegant as ever. Second row left, a sketch of her skeleton pony, with a medieval seat saddle and also covered in a sheer shroud. Second row right, a sketch of the Lady, sitting in the seat saddle, her sword across her knees, looking toward something on the ground.

Swing Macabre, the last challenger !
Meet the White Lady, aka Death herself, Guide and Queen of the Danse Macabre.
Don't worry, she is nice. And much kinder than the Ankou.
#swingmacabre #clipstudiopaint #characterdesign #dansemacabre

Francois and Madeleine are still running, passing the ankou's pony who watch them, then his master and then decide to graze (look he is a pony, I'm not sure they believe in afterlife, it's jsut life for them) Francois look over his shoulder with a grin then toward the Grievers crowd. The Grievers only noticed them when it's too late to avoid the crash and Francois throw them away like quills, only leaving their leader who just wave them hello. Madeleine happily wave him back, to looking where she go and crash into Francois who suddenly stopped, looking at something out of frame.

Swing macabre page 16!
Did I ever mentioned that François is a troll?
And who is he looking at by the way?
Answer as soon as I designed the character because I forgot all about her until now...
#swingmacabre #storyboard #skeletons

Francois and Madeleine keep dancing, passing the three Graces and reaching the Ankou's cart. Francois lift Madeleine in the cart then climb after her, while the Ankou is raving at them to get down. They don't listen and keep on swinging, until Madeleine accidentally bump into the Ankou, detaching his head and sending it flying. She try to help him, embarrassed, but Francois drag her along, jumping off the cart. They both ran away giggling.

What is it? A new Swing Macabre page of storyboard?!
Sorry, the last two weeks had been rather busy with art test and job interviews ^^;
And this is the return of the Ankou and his pony !
#swingmacabre #storyboard #clipstudiopaint #francoisisatroll

HUMAN ARTISTS, use one piece to convince people to follow you

#digitalart #illustration #clipstudiopaint #skeleton #dansemacabre #swingmacabre #oc #francoisthecutieskeleton

Francois glisse en bas de la colline, vers quelques squelettes musiciens qui le regarde s'arrêter avec classe. Un peu choquée, Madeleine essaye de descendre de ses bras et de se redresser, mais elle a les jambes qui flagolent. Francois remarque les musiciens et claque des doigts, leur demandant de la musique. Ils obéissent, préparent leurs instruments pendant que Francois se met en position, enlaçant Madeleine. La musique commence, une version swing de Danse Macabre de Saint Saëns. François entraine une Madeleine surprise dans sa danse, s'éloignant peu à peu des musiciens. Ils rejoignent les Graces qui semblent contente de les voir, surtout quand Francois commence à leur faire du charme, allant jusqu'à donner un baise main à la Grace aux bijoux. Madeleine semble arriver à suivre la danse de plus en plus facilement, souriant même aux facéties de Francois. François skid down the hill, toward a few musicians skeletons who watche him stop with class. A bit in shock, Madeleine try to get down and stand up, but her legs aren't quite steady. Meanwhile, François notice the musicians and snap his fingers to them, asking for music. The musicians obliged, readying their instruments while Francois stand ready to dance, embracing Madeleine. The music start, a swing version of Dance Macabre by Saint Saëns. Francois drag a surprised Madeleine into his dance, away from the musicians. They join the Graces, who look happy while Francois flirt with them, even going to kiss the bejeweled Grace on her hand. Madeleine seem to follow the dance more and more easily, even smiling at Francois' antics.

Swing Macabre the story board 14
Francois is an inveterate charmer when there is pretty ladies around him...
No idea where I could find a swing version of Dance Macabre, though...
#clipstudiopaint #swingmacabre #storyboard

Francois look at Madeleine. Madeleine look at Francois. And his hand suddenly close on hers, before pulling her in a dance move. Surprised, she try to hang on, but Francois twirl her, then point to the bottom of the hill, clearly intending to go back, before saying goodbye to the Hanged. He jumped, followed by the sound of his bells and Madeleine's screaming, while the Hanged wave them goodbye. Francois skid down the hill with a screaming Madeleine clinging to him for dear life.

Swing Macabre page 13
Madeleine, you better hang on even tighter than your are now, because this is going to be a roller caster, girl.
I'm so glad François can't drink coffee and probably died centuries before its discovery
#swingmacabre #storyboard #francoisthecutieskeleton

Madeleine tries bravely to hold her laughter, turning to Francois, but there is very big BONK and she lost it, under Francois prideful eye. The hanged men stop bickering, all tangled up. Around the gallows hill, the parade stops, looking up at Madeleine's laugh. She finally manages to get her laugh under control, also she needs to breath. But when she looks at her hands, she realized her hands are back to normal. François stand in front of her and bow, holding out his hand to her. She hesitates. Francois make a come on gesture at her and, with a little smile, she finally put her hand in his.

#Swingmacabre 's storyboard page 12
What exactly could go wrong with holding hands with a skeleton in a fool attire?
#storyboard #swingmacabre #clipstudiopaint

Madeleine is sitting against the gallows, eyes a bit wild and still breathing hard. She look at her hands, still skeletal, then curl on herself. The sound of a bell make her look up and she see a skeleton, dressed with a fool attire, climbing the hill and jingling like Santa's sleight. He look at her, then come to a crouch in front of her, close enough to touch her. She try to get away but is stopped by the gallows. He held a hand to her face, feeling her breath but she close her eyes, afraid to be touched.

Francois take back his hand and Madeleine opened an eye, surprised. He seem to think, then look around, searching something before deciding to just climb the gallows, at Madeleine's surprised. While Francois climb, one of the hanged men try to grab him and they scuffle for a while, until Francois just shove his feet on the hanged's head, looking at the horizon. Madeleine watch him, confused, but he quickly seem to find what he's searching. Also, there is a flurry of jingling bells every time he move.

Francois show something far away, looking happy, but suddenly disappear from the frame we he is pulled down. Madeleine try to get to his rescue, but he catch himself on the gallows. One of the Hanged got hit foot and they scuffle again, until Francois managed to free his foot and then catch the Hanged by the leg, pulling him to the side, while the others Hanged are laughing. He let him go suddenly, and the Hanged fall back, hitting the second one on the way. Who hit the third. Who hit the fourth. Who hit the other gallows, before swinging back, all that under Madeleine transfixed stare. There is several more bonk as the Hanged keep hitting each others, and when Francois jump back next to Madeleine, she is trying to stifle a laugh.

Swing Macabre page 9, 10 and 11 !
But, you may wonder, you already posted page 9 and 10!
Indeed, could I answer, Dear, but having the background, the skeletons and François the same color is not really legible.
So starting now, François will be blue.
#clipstudiopaint #swingmacabre #storyboard

Francois take back his hand and Madeleine opened an eye, surprised. He seem to think, then look around, searching something before deciding to just climb the gallows, at Madeleine's surprised. While Francois climb, one of the hanged men try to grab him and they scuffle for a while, until Francois just shove his feet on the hanged's head, looking at the horizon. Madeleine watch him, confused, but he quickly seem to find what he's searching. Also, there is a flurry of jingling bells every time he move.

Page10 of #SwingMacabre 's storyboard!
Madeleine is discovering Francois's aptitude for chaos !
#storyboard

Madeleine is sitting against the gallows, eyes a bit wild and still breathing hard. She look at her hands, still skeletal, then curl on herself. The sound of a bell make her look up and she see a skeleton, dressed with a fool attire, climbing the hill and jingling like Santa's sleight. He look at her, then come to a crouch in front of her, close enough to touch her. She try to get away but is stopped by the gallows. He held a hand to her face, feeling her breath but she close her eyes, afraid to be touched.

Swing Macabre, the storyboard, page 9!
With the return of François, the happy skeleton !
#swingmacabre #storyboard #digitalart #clipstudiopaint

Madeleine is climbing to the top of the hill, breathless. She lean against a big post, trying to get her breath back, but when she raise her head, she see the complete panorama around her. A dead plain, without any vegetation, and only ruins. A big procession of dead is making it's way around the hill. While she is looking, she suddenly notice the skin of her hands is disappearing, showing her bones underneath. There is a skeleton cackle and a foot appear on the post above her. When she raise her head, for skeletons are looking at her, swinging happily, one of them even gave her a little wave in salute. She, as usual, jump and hide behind the post, making the skeletons laugh.

Swing Macabre page 8 !
... ok, maybe the Hanged Men are a bit too much in the story...
#swingMacabre #storyboard #digitalart

Two skeletons help Madeleine to her feet while a third one start to invective the Ankou, even throwing a golden apple to his head. The other two help Madeleine, tidying up her hair and clothes and showing her a mirror. But when Madeleine look into the mirror, she only saw herself as a skeleton. Horrified, she push the skeletons away and start running again. They are devastated, but the sound of a bell ring. Somone, out of panel give back the apple while the girls show the direction where Madeleine went. Madeleine is still running, pushing musicians skeletons around to flee. She try to avoid the crow of skeletons by climbing a hill topped by gallows.

Swing Macabre, story board 7
Progress is being made, little by little !
I think I'm around one third of the story !
#swingmacabre #storyboard #digitalart #clipstudiopaint

Yup^, that the Ankou, and he is furious to have been disturbed during his nap... er... job. He is yelling at Madeleine who, in turned, is even more frightened. To escape him, she dive under the cart and curl on the ground, waiting for the tempest to pass. Ankou is surprised, but the sound of bells make him look up. He seems tired to see the person coming, and just point him to the back of the cart. Once the cart is gone, Madeleine uncurl, but three skeletons are coming, two help her to her feet, while the third one is clanking menacingly at the Ankou.

Page 6 of #Swingmacabre 's storyboard ! With the Ankou and the first glimpse of the three Graces !
Also, Madeleine's sense of self-preservation is... on point.
#skeletons #storyboard #clipstudiopaint

Page 5 of Swing Macabre's storyboard Madeleine ran away, leaving the Grievers distraught, until they hear a bell ringing and turn toward it. Meanwhile, Madeleine manage to escape the Grievers' procession and they let her go without much fuss. She try to catch her breath and realized there is still a crowd of skeletons around her, who don't pay any mind to her. She still try to flinch away, but found herself facing a big skeleton horse. Startled, the horse try to avoid her, shaking his cart and the driver awake. The driver start to rise, grabbing the scythe next to him...

Swing Macabre storyboard 5 !
I'm not exactly sure my annotation are very academical... Oh, well, I'll do another pass once I'm done.
#swingmacabre #storyboard #clipstudiopaint

Sketches of three skeletons girls, standing next to each other. They have very similar build and differ by their accessories. The left one is holding a rectangular mirror against her... er... chest. The middle one has an apple in her hands and wear a tiara, two heavy necklaces, two wristband on her right arm and a jewelry belt. The right one is standing with her hands above her head, and is the only one to have hair left, although very spare, and seem to be brushing her hair or fixing it. On the right, there is a better view of the mirror, the golden apple and the comb.

Swing Macabre: The Three Graces.
Which have absolutely nothing to do with mythology, they are Madeleine's Memento Mori.
Also, they are sweet hearts, the three of them, even if the bejeweled one is a mean shot with her apple.
#swingmacabre #characterdesign #clipstudiopaint #skeleton

Character design of a skeleton dressed in a black coat and round hat, holding a scythe with upside down blade. He doesn't have a neck, allowing him to turn his skull like a weathervane. There is also a sketch of a skeletal horse and another one of the same horse, only his head, holding Francois's skull between his mandibule. They are playing, don't worry. On the bottom, a side view of the Ankou's cart, with longs ribs like spike on top. The Ankou is slouched on the driver seat, his scythe hanging next to him, while the pony is walking.

Close up of the skeletal pony playing with Francois' skull. There is a little heart above the pony's skull and they both look like they're having the time of their life... I mean, of their death.

Today's picture is the Ankou, his smiling pony and his cart.
And a close up of the pony with Francois. Don't worry, they're both playing.
#swingmacabre #Ankou #pony #skeleton #characterdesign #bretonlegend

Storyboard of the story Swing Macabre. Madeleine just hit someone but when the person take her hand to make sure she is okay, she realized it's a walking skeleton. Turning around, she see she is among a procession of skeleton in frocks. They all stop and gather around her, curious, until the first one try to calm her down again, putting his hands on her shoulder.

And I'm keeping up with Swing Macabre !
New page of storyboard today, but I will need to work on the secondary character before I can draw more.
Madeleine is now in the World of the Dead and... well... it's full of dead people !
#swingmacabre #storyboard #thegrievers

Picture of a dancing skeleton dressed in a fool's attire in front of a dance macabre fresco, while waiving a banner with this text wrote on it : I will keep dancing and singing and you will die mad about it !

So, I hit 5 out of 7 goals for my october spooky project : Swing Macabre. Still happy about it !
Happy halloween every one ! Here is my promised card with François (available on redbubble)
www.redbubble.com/fr/i/carte-p...
#inktober #swingmacabre #drawloween #halloween

Part 3 of the Swing Macabre storyboard. The young lady finish praying next to the headstone and stand back up, before going back to the alley. Strangely, the part of the stone she touch suddenly start changing, taking sepia tone, like an old paper or parchment. She doesn't notice and start to walk away, but the sepia stain follow her, staining everything and the flowers on the tombs starts to wither, still unnoticed by her. she accidentally hit someone on the shoulder with her face and it's the end of the page.

Swing macabre day... already?
Oh well, assessment tomorrow, but I have to admit I didn't got as far as I wanted to
And while I'm trying to decide if I keep going on the project during November, here is part 3 !
#inktober #drawloween #digitalart #clipstudiopaint #storyboard #SwingMacabre

Storyboard page 2 of Swing Macabre. The young girl take off the old bouqet to replace it with a shiny new one. She look at the tombstone, there is 5 name, only seperated by 2 to 4 years inbetween, two of same on the same death date. She look sad there goes up, walk sideway between tombs to the headstone and put her forehead to the stone as gathering? Not sure of the word but I have a fever, it's already a miracle I can think in english.

Note to self: Dealing with a big monthly project + whatever virus I got + the #paintablepumpkin challenge of Paintable wasn't a good idea.
Page 2 of the story board and I'm going back to bed.
#swingmacabre

Story board of Swing Macabre. Look ,there is twelve images, I'm not going to describe each and every one. This is just the setting of the scene (a cemetery in a sunny city), the title screen (a parchment with Swing Macabre wrote on it), a close up on a tombstone with the girl's hands taking an old bouquet away from a funerary vase.

I'm back. Fever probably burned a few brain-cells cause I forgot half my lesson on storyboard...
... okay, that was also more than 20 years ago. I really need the practice.
But hey, first storyboard page of Swing Macabre!
#swingmacabre #storyboard

Three versions of the Maiden (she still need a name: Anna, Sophia or do I do a pun with Madeleine?). On the left, when the story begin she is dressed in dark, and her colors are rather subdued, but there are colors. When she arrives at the Word of the Dead and she met the clanking parade errr the Danse Macabre, her clothes became darker, her skin paler and mostly, everything get desaturated, until there is only black white or dark grey. And finally, when she met François and he managed to make her laugh, she literally gets more and more colorful until the end (though, not as much as him). And between the second and third stages, there is a sketch of the Maiden as a skeleton, which is her fate if she don't escape the world of the dead in time...

Swing Macabre 22
The Maiden has a design and several color themes since it vary on her mood and where she is.
Left to right:
World of the living > World of the Dead Before François > Idem after Francois.
Oh, the skeleton ?
Let's just say she better run outta there QUICK.
#swingmacabre #inktober