i will tighten up facial features by drawing NONE







this was supposed to be one of my characters but I messed up the eyes so I was like fuck this shit and I drew an overgrowth of bangs.


Fuck lj-cuts I don't need instructions on how to ROCK.

I'm CRACKALACKIN


You know why.

I finally figured out why my art looks so fucking -naked-. I knew it was a problem, but it's really holding me back.


Backgrounds and dynamic scenes. I want to portray SCENES or drawings where it looks like events are taking place, even if it's not realistic. That drawing I did of Lacey and Rochester was a quick sketch but a huge accomplishment in that area. I'm excited for Lacey's story in general.

I don't know why it just never seemed so obvious before. I accepted it as a problem, as something I needed to work on - but now I see it as a challenge I sincerely want to tackle. Drawing people in floaty space is fun, easy, and leaves great room for experimentation at best, but I can be so much more than that. I have skills, I just have to hone them, and find a way to enjoy drawing inorganic forms. I enjoy drawing from life, just not always stationary objects even though just gazing into 3D space, and putting it down on paper is the best thing I can do for my art.

Even this is nice - http://stabstabstab.deviantart.com/art/Riding-Hood-100470176

It's not existing on any realistic plane, but something is visibly happening, there is a story being told. She is afraid, but with a big bad wolf. I am intrigued. I want to inspire intrigue. There are simple, visual symbols kind of cobbled together, resembling a background, and arranged in a way that fills the space without overtaking it.

It is something closer to my current level of skill than say, a beautiful dynamic church with people talking in front of it, or maybe even fighting(it's more interesting!). The background implies a scenery, without being a realistic one. I rarely do this, if ever. I am pointing it out because there is a feeling of action, or rising action, without anything actually visibly taking place. Just a lot of visual cues that capture my interest. I want to be able to do this, too. IT is a simple drawing but does not appear so nude, if only for the presence of color(something I also want to work on).


http://themrock.deviantart.com/art/Presence-of-Nature-127464977 This is another good example of implicated backgrounds without being genuine ones. There are genuine setting elements(trees, mushrooms, grass, the 3D dimensional space), and then things that imply otherwise. I can't explain them clearly, but by looking you can tell. It's 3D with flattened elements, and as an aside, it's anatomically a departure from Themrock's usual choices that I'm used to. But still whimsical. I love this drawing.


http://skybolt.deviantart.com/art/Bioshock-Mocks-105763624


Adn then and example of the more action-based drawings I'd like to be able to do. All these mocks are totally great, automatically. I love the visual contrast between Big Daddies and Little Sisters. The symbolism, and the relationships are so instantly perceived by their physical contrast. Helplessness, dependence, danger and affection is so automatic just by looking at them, and the Big Daddy's big, scary drill, and her obvious, affectionate fearlessness of him.

All the drawings tell a story, they all have excellent visual cues and very interesting angles. The clearly silhouetted ones are definitely the most powerful. The one of the Little Sister taking the bloodied Big Daddy's hand is blobbed together, but it's not a flaw. The forms are clear. Instantly I still knew what I was looking at. No big, bro.

I would love to be able to paint like that also. I can't even imagine the kind of art I could come up with, especially blended in my cartoony, "primary" style. Even then, it's exciting to think about the REALISM and the instant bond realistic art has with casual audiences. I prefer the cartoonism, but there is just less of a struggle to make the connection in more realistic-looking art. (Imaginism on deviantart is GREAT at those connections through cartoony/painterly mixes, jesus christ I envy/admire him. He's got a business going off it and everything.)

Actually as a better example, even:

http://imaginism.deviantart.com/art/The-Kid-s-Last-Heist-111662851


This one is interesting because it's taken from a pretty standard 12:00 angle, but all the characters are visibly running, and the cloud trailing after and around "The Kid" implies movement, much like speedlines. The colors are warm and welcoming, the action is clear - guns are pointed. I can hear music in my head, and hear the sound of the horses running clearly, because of Imaginism's talent for photorealistic colors.

Also, the robot horse is a great futuristic touch. It totally confuses me, while being kick-ass because it's such a cool touch. It would be a great drawing anyways, but now it's even better. It isn't realistic in terms of robot horse or cartoony styles, but it's relatable, and there is action and a clear story. I would totally fucking love some details. Spaghetti western meets sci-fi always appeals to me. I love westerns.



Artistic goals, whooh!

( E'ry bawdy look at me, I'm on a boat! [3] )


ALso I don't know where I put my tablet pen so if these are a little dirty looking I apologize.

My first full page spread. The drawing itself isn't ambitious, but the drawing size was, jesus.


( Over heeyuh )

After months of silence I HAVE RETURNED with much new art. For two months 17 doesn't feel like a lot but rest assured it's not accurate representation of how much I actually draw. It's just what I consider presentable.





( Moar inside[16] )


Theeee end.

Man seriously I am way too lazy to make preview images anymore. But I drew some shit.


( 1 completed and 1 wip )

I didn't make a fucking preview image this time, okay.


Like any of you are complaining.


( 3 pichurz )



Okay I have to go see the Doctor about my SHITTY EAR bye.

I failed February Draw Everday Challenge horribly, but I am totally okay with this.

I don't know if maybe I'm just kind of taking a break from drawing or what. For some reason, since I've really buckled down on my art it's harder for me to just draw frivolously. Not that I don't still enjoy it. My artistic temperament has changed so much in the past two years it's a little confusing. Anyway.







More inside.



( lots of brush work, mostly doodles )



Okay get out of my art journal the peep show is over.

The February Draw Every Day Challenge on Sketch Tavern starts today. Expect one more art update for today's drawing, and 27 more to follow. Every drawing, glorious or repugnant, will be posted here and of course on the Tavern.

I think I just got over my Artist's Block so this is a good way to begin the month.













I drew these like almost two weeks ago now but I think Disco will be happy to see some sketches.

Man, I am so unimpressed with my art lately. December was a great drawing month for me - I felt so inspired. Drawing presently, I can barely scratch the surface of what I want to draw.

I've always had this problem, I'm sure I'm not the only one. My imagination is so vivid, sometimes I listen to music and I visualize little stories or music videos to go with it. I get so engrossed in these visuals, that if I'm on my bed or in a car, I sometimes forget where I am and what I'm doing until the song ends, I open my eyes or get interrupted. It's one of those things.

I know I try, and I've been trying, but it's like there's an actual barrier there that I haven't been pushing hard enough against. It's like this metaphorical wall blocking off the intensity of my imagination - which is my own limited drawing abilities. My drawing skills are still so primitive, I still can't realize what I see in my head to completion. I've improved tenfold, but when I look at what others around me are capable of doing, I feel left in the dust, regardless of age or experience.

I have the booksmarts, I know I have a very keen eye, but somehow when it's my own art I can't put that eye or those smarts to good use. I get so caught up in the conflict between practice and play, that my eye is more educated than my hand.

I guess what I'm trying to say is my art is nothing but floating heads and inks and I'm terrible at drawing action poses and diversifying body structures and I wish I could paint like this guy: http://perzo.deviantart.com/art/Horned-God-s-Daughter-72928453


Actually in general, there's just a variety of styles I want to be good at. I don't want to pigeon hole my art to being that guy that draws like cartoon network pictures or draws disney or what the hell ever. I hate labels, and I hope that maybe I can achieve a sense of diversity in what I do, even if it's really cartoony right now (because that's what I like most).

Practice makes perfect, I guess.