Hey all! So as it says above I have been having some thoughts of late of where my life is going and came to a kind of revelation

Here are the two things I have been thinking about lately:

1: Art style
2. Going to an art school for the wrong reason

Art style:

As you had probably noticed, if you have been watching me for a while, I have slowed down when it comes to uploading. For a while I thought it was just because of my job. And yes, my job is part of it, I'm often too tired and drained for energy to really want to draw and lacked a lot of inspiration. It also doesn't help that, as it turns out, I liked visiting out here more than I do living out here... Anyway, it wasn't until someone made a comment that actually hit me like a ton of bricks that I realized something else that was holding me back, I was trying to be something I wasn't, a full on digital artist. As well as, try to adapt to a style that didn't fit me.

Let me explain: Since my discovery of digital art at 21 I have focused on improving my own digital skills to match those around me, if not better. *See my scraps for my digital evolution, just be warned... it's scary...* Smooth lines, sketchy lines, all kinds of lines! And coloring styles, shading styles! Because of my lack of experience in digital unlike most people who seemed to have discovered it at an earlier age, I had no clue where to start when it came to adopting my own digital flare. I depended too much on how other artist did their work to really figure out how I should do mine. And even as I became more experienced in digital it still never felt right.

Then I got a comment over on weaysl, the person stated that the style I have been doing for "Spring Fever" reminded them of the underground 1960s comics. So I looked it up. And it may seem silly but that is what hit me. That was the kind of thing I grew up with, those that don't know me may not realize this about me but, I love strange, I love freaky things, I grew up knowing strange and freaky people. The art I grew up with was bizarre and rough, not smooth or clean, and since my discovery of digital and art sites, smooth and clean is what I tried to become. It never felt natural to me, even as I evolved, it just never felt right. When I set my pencil on a piece of paper, I just go. Spring Fever is probably the fastest comic I have pumped out for some time now. When it comes to digital, I freeze, "Am I doing this right? That seems off, I better zoom in and fix that. Oh no, that lines is askew, better redo it. Ah hell, the proportions on this background guy are all off. People are going to notice" And the story starts to become lost in my thought process.


I have since realized several things:

1. My traditional lines have more energy and life to them then my digital lines, and I tend to flow more naturally
2. On the other hand, my digital coloring is stronger than my traditional coloring, it's good, but not as strong
3. The reason I have trouble with shading is because, my detail is in my drawing, not my shading. When it comes to shading, I do better when I keep it basic, it fits my style a lot better and spares my sanity
4. The underground 1960s comic look actually... fits... my main comic is a serious psychological comic. Smooth lines kind of make it seem bland in my opinion, the harsher, rougher lines give it more mood, more feeling, and actually give it a more serious tone. Also, what is perfect is... the story takes place in the 60s, makes sense dun it?
5. I have tried for the longest time to mimic art styles that were more on the "cute" side of things. Yes, I can do cute, however, my main style is not cute or at least meant to be cute *or... it's cute in it's own way... huh... hope that makes sense* (or what most people consider to be "cute")



Will you still see digital stuff? Oh yeah! I actually hit a point that I do feel pretty happy with it, most digital stuff you will see will be ref sheets and the cute toony style *clean lines are perfect for those* And of course if someone commissions me for digital work I will do it :3


To review my work as of late see here: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6831537/



Going to school for the wrong reason:

This is something that has hit me recently... I'm actually glad I didn't get into SCAD... I didn't think I would say it but... I am... I want to do comics... however, I do not want a job in making comics for other people. I want to write my own stories and hopefully get them published. Do I still need to learn things about comics to make my own? Yes. Wouldn't I have to make some connections in order to, in hopes, get published? Yes.

However, I can do that all on my own. Would it be a little more difficult? Oh hell ya! No one said it would be easy! But so far I seem to be doing pretty fine on my own. Being on this site, and going to cons I have met people who have experience in comic work and have been extremely willing and helpful in aiding me with my own. Meeting people kind of works the same way, go to cons, talk to people, be friendly. Even before I went to cons I had an insane amount of luck running into people with connections. I mean I worked with a gal who's friend got a $2000 tip from Johnny Depp. No, I'm not kidding! She also grew up in the town where Ted Bundy lived. Neat right? (not really connections just proving how likely it can be) I worked and talked to some amazing people, as long as your nice and pleasant, it's not impossible to run into someone who knows someone. Like the gal who runs my writer's group has connections with a gal who works as an agent, getting comics published is her thing.

Defining and improving my craft is also something I do well on my own, if not better! I improved faster on my own than I did going to an art college, maybe that is just me and how my brain works but yeah, the one thing I am thankful for in my college experience was the life drawing classes and the Photoshop classes. Those have always been the most helpful.



Where is my life going? Aren't I going back to college? Yes, a local community college to become a teacher of sorts. Either for a head-start or Kindergarten. I can not be with out a job, that much is true. However I want it to be one I will actually like, one that has good hours, pays decent, and won't get in the way of my art work. One thing I also learned, ...I fucking hate working graves... thought I would like it but no, biggest mistake ever!

Many people agree this is a good choice, so I'm feeling fairly confident :) And even though I haven't uploaded that much yet, I actually have been getting past my art block and drawing a lot lately! Since this realization I am pleased to say I feel comfortable with my art work again :D



I guess the perfect way to end this would be: Just do you. Don't do something because it is popular, MAKE IT POPULAR! Be amazing and soon everyone will see it as such, even if it may take a while :D


All the best!

Poe