Chris Ware - Slow Time

Ware often shows time passing slowly [1] by focusing on small background or scenery details such as the sky changing colour in the evening or the trees growing buds as it changes from winter to spring. In this example, the colours stay the same which helps to show the differences between the panels (movement of the bird and tree growth).

Having a pause from the narrative using this method gives the reader a moment to rest, especially after an exciting or eye-opening scene. It also helps to slow down the story and give a better pacing.

Showing the passage of time through plant growth gives an organic feel to the story even though it is set in an urban environment so I wanted to explore plant growth as well, in particular mushrooms because I find them weird and therefore interesting. For reference I watched some time lapse videos [2] of different fungi growing in a forest environment, the way the mushroom cap shoots up and then fans outwards was something I wanted show in my image and having a sequence was a suitable way to show this.

I kept the colour palette very simple, as Ware does, to better show the mushrooms and shoots as they are the focus of the scene. The browns give an earthy feel to the environment which works well without being unrealistic.




References
[1] Ware 2000
[2] Wonderful Life 2015

Bibliography

Read Comics. 2016. Jimmy Corrigan - The Smartest Kid on Earth. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.readcomics.tv/jimmy-corrigan-the-smartest-kid-on-earth-2000/chapter-1/95. [Accessed 10 December 2016].

Ware, C, 2000. Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth. 1st ed. 37, 92, : Pantheon Books

YouTube, Wonderful Life. 2015. Mushroom Growing Time Lapse. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TZNEjXruy0. [Accessed 10 December 2016].