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Why do I draw?
12 years ago
General
At one time it was doodling in class to blot out the teacher and math. Later it was to show my friends as foxes or lizards doing funny things, and then I would hand over that drawing to said friend. It was just a thing to fill margins in school and bulletins in church. I had all these characters in my head and I wanted them on paper. Sometimes I drew myself looking prettier than I really did. So much wish fulfillment.
Then the internet came along in the 90s and I saw how far behind I truly was. College had not prepared me to illustrate at such a fancy level, oh no! There was much catching up and copying Boris Vallejo poses and constantly using animal reference to make sure no one could criticize the pieces I posted. I loved making the pictures, but now I needed other people to like them too. It was very important to me then. Thus the focus moved off my characters and stories and humor and became "see I can draw too!"
Yerf was a bit of that. When that site was the rage artists all tried to draw to Yerf standards and the point was to show skill. I made the cut and fans liked my work but some of the Yerf crowd played this un-fun game of "What did Megan draw wrong?" and they had their little forum where they took cracks at recent art. This mentality of "you better suck it up and take the critique" moved onto other sites as well and I tired of the constant witch hunt. It drained the joy right out.
10 years ago I was getting tired of drawing furries. It had all been done, and nothing more needed to be said, or so I thought. How many foxes and wolves and how many poses need repeating? So I drew cows. I was bored with art.
In 2006 I got into World of Warcraft and that changed SO much. Love it or hate it, that game got me inspired like nothing had in YEARS and I was agog with the jungle trolls. Art was a passion once more, and the characters and stories in my head were kicked into VERY high gear and I was "WOO HOO ART!" all over the place. Sure much of it was derivative Warcraft art but it made me happy and I have no regrets. Plus it pushed me to draw more males and armor and I got better.
But the stories in my head needed to come out somehow. I was intimidated by comics because there were so many RULES and I was warned that once you get into the comic crowd "it is eternal junior high" and full of catty people who tear eachother down. So I balked. In 2007 or 2008 it was
tegerio of all people who inspired me to ignore that and just do it. He sure led by example, as you can see from the hundreds of pages in Zandar's Saga alone. But it was his fearless impulse to create stories even if no one else liked it that got me over that hurdle. You would think that years of Joe and Roz and Jay and all the other comic artist would have done the trick but nope, it was Josh Kennedy.
The problems worked themselves out. I figured out layout and pacing and all that and peope liked my jokes. I already tipped my hat to Joe in my previous journal, you know that.
Then the internet came along in the 90s and I saw how far behind I truly was. College had not prepared me to illustrate at such a fancy level, oh no! There was much catching up and copying Boris Vallejo poses and constantly using animal reference to make sure no one could criticize the pieces I posted. I loved making the pictures, but now I needed other people to like them too. It was very important to me then. Thus the focus moved off my characters and stories and humor and became "see I can draw too!"
Yerf was a bit of that. When that site was the rage artists all tried to draw to Yerf standards and the point was to show skill. I made the cut and fans liked my work but some of the Yerf crowd played this un-fun game of "What did Megan draw wrong?" and they had their little forum where they took cracks at recent art. This mentality of "you better suck it up and take the critique" moved onto other sites as well and I tired of the constant witch hunt. It drained the joy right out.
10 years ago I was getting tired of drawing furries. It had all been done, and nothing more needed to be said, or so I thought. How many foxes and wolves and how many poses need repeating? So I drew cows. I was bored with art.
In 2006 I got into World of Warcraft and that changed SO much. Love it or hate it, that game got me inspired like nothing had in YEARS and I was agog with the jungle trolls. Art was a passion once more, and the characters and stories in my head were kicked into VERY high gear and I was "WOO HOO ART!" all over the place. Sure much of it was derivative Warcraft art but it made me happy and I have no regrets. Plus it pushed me to draw more males and armor and I got better.
But the stories in my head needed to come out somehow. I was intimidated by comics because there were so many RULES and I was warned that once you get into the comic crowd "it is eternal junior high" and full of catty people who tear eachother down. So I balked. In 2007 or 2008 it was
tegerio of all people who inspired me to ignore that and just do it. He sure led by example, as you can see from the hundreds of pages in Zandar's Saga alone. But it was his fearless impulse to create stories even if no one else liked it that got me over that hurdle. You would think that years of Joe and Roz and Jay and all the other comic artist would have done the trick but nope, it was Josh Kennedy.The problems worked themselves out. I figured out layout and pacing and all that and peope liked my jokes. I already tipped my hat to Joe in my previous journal, you know that.
Charles Schulz was my main inspiration...not much in "Correct" anatomy or aesthetic details in his daily comic strip panels but his observations of life and his simple art style to convey them so effectively made him worthy of great respect.
I admit though, I tend to ask questions when I see something that looks odd, because I never know. It may have been intentional. Still, I just have fun commenting from time to time, but your art still helped to inspire me to keep going, along with a few others. I was originally going to do a piece involving a room of plushes for one of my character, and each plush a figment of an artist that helped my style/art progress. It's more or less just me tipping my hat.
We create because we need to. Almost all of the creative people I know say they would go crazy if they didn't.
You say ' I drew myself looking prettier than I really did.' It brings up an interesting study that was done. When artist were asked to paint / draw a live model, it turns out that how they feel about the model influence how the finished piece will look. The more they like the model the better the artist will make them look Not surprising, but interesting.
We all have a fantasy of who we are. It never corresponds to how others see us. That's just a fact of life. The gap between the fantasy you and the real you is widest in people who are unhappy with their lives. Some take this to be somewhat depressing, but for me, it shows the strength and resilience of the human spirit. No matter how big of an ass / screw up / idiot you really are ( or perceived to be by others), You still see your self in a positive way. The key is to be able to change, to adapt.
Most people who flame on the internet can't do that. They can't admit when they're wrong. I don't get mad at these people. I pity them. I pray for their enlightenment.
The only way to get better is to practice. I've been writing since I was in my teens, and with the exception of one piece, it's only now, when I'm in my fifties, that I feel I've reached a good level of writing. Web comics are a good way to improve your art. For better or for worse, it makes you draw on a set schedule.
So keep it up. Remember you create for YOU. If other people like it, it's great for the ego. But not essential.
^_^
...well.. I guess I've already said that too, so it didn't really need to be said after all, huh?
(Probably have mentioned it.. I talk a lot and then forget what I've said)
Aside from my HORDE of chibi's, a bit of your styling shows thru in my work, and for good reason!
It doesn't surprise me that Tegerio helped you go for it. I have never met the man, but his art is fun and cool and different, and he seems like a genuinely interesting fellow from the bit of conversation I have had with him online.
I cant wait to see what you do next, even if I am remiss in commenting as much as I should.....
I had hoped one day to meet you in person and have you draw a sketch for me and I did (FC2013)! :)
I always look forward to seeing what you would draw next. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing! :D
When the Great Bell is rung, he SHALL be there!
So ignore the haters and the Internet trolls and keep drawing what you want to draw, because there will always be plenty of people who love it. Bach and Shakespeare and Picasso had their critics too, but their artworks outlived their critics, and yours will too.
But as much as I'd love to see you drawing those (and I sure as heck would), I'd rather see you drawing things that inspire you and make you happy. You're too good an artist to stop just because artist's block has taken hold because you took commissions that didn't inspire you. It's better that we all wait patiently in hopes that you'll draw our favorite subjects rather than commission you and make you unhappy in the process. As somebody who's done a few commissions himself now, I can sympathize with the predicament of the golden chains around your muse's neck. Someday, I really would love to commission you; but not if it comes at the expense of your muse and inspiration.
So if they inspire you, please, absolutely do draw your brilliant centaurs. And if not, I can wait until they do.
I get ideas, I get inspiration...And when I grab pencil and paper it all evaporates.
I worked so hard to learn to draw.
And now I can't.
-Badger-
COS YOU'RE SPACE CAT AND YOU ROCK! ;)
In the late '90's when I first noticed your art on VCL you were definitely one of the few artists whose art I could point to and say: "I want to be able to draw as good as that!" You are still giving me a good target to shoot for.
At a time when my own enthusiasm for drawing/art is in a somewhat precarious spot (I can hardly find time to draw lately), it is good to hear a story of perseverance.
(Also, your collaborations with Josh Kennedy made me a fan of his work as well.)
(Really, I wish I could think of a better reply than !)