Just think of it this way...
Your gonna be better than them in the future.
THEY WILL PUMP YOUR GAS, DAMMIT!
or they will be begging for change.

Either way, Your still sucessful, and they are not.

*hugs* It's not personal emostuffs, I swear! I better post that.

Thank you nonetheless. That you didn't need to write anything and did anyway makes me feel good.

A little late to be saying you'll be better than them in the future, anyway... unless you've been getting held back in high school a long time. ^_^

More to the point, he's already better than them right now. ;)

*hugs all three of you*

This floors ME. I keep trying to come up with something meaningful to offer as a response, and failing. Thank you, man.

Thank you! There's a fine line (no pun intended) between finished and unfinished when it comes to linework. I am bound and determined to figure out where that line is.

Very nifty (if sad) piece, dood! I'm glad you explained the stuff behind it not being YOU per se, but a need to express emotion via art. Lots of nifty colors here, though I think the off-white seems a little flat and a little far forward for its brightness. Love the sketchiness about it. Love the volume of the various heads. Great overall palette, too. It almost has a feel of one of the musical numbers from Aristocats, though I don't know what I'm making that comparison.

'tis a good point. I'll tinker with that patch and see if it's just better without. Thank you sir!

Maybe Aristocats is coming in dere because of the palette. It's a pretty 60s-era palette! I was riffing off of work from that era, people whose names have largely been forgotten (Finney, for example). What's funny is that the freedom of composition and execution that seemed to exist back then is returning. Really exciting to me; I had to fight to leave those sketchy lines alone, to either render it to death or make it cel-like.

Turns out that the Fine Pen tool in Painter gets you a look that's almost Heinrich Kley-ish! I'll have to do some master copies to pump up me chops.

Spot on.

The colouring's perfect, and those organic panels are nicely set against each other - big and open vs small and constrictive. Most importantly, I think it evidently isn't just drawing-while-emotional (of which there's plenty), but (the much rarer thing) emotion expressed through drawing. It doesn't just depict the feeling, it artfully summons it. That's tough to do, both practically and personally. Very well done.

This really hit me dead-center. I appreciate all those who take the time to say something about my work, but when someone like you tells me I hit exactly the mark I was going for, without prompting of any sort, that really puts a smile on my face. Thank you.

Man, the composition works amazingly well! Tells the story well and in a powerful way. The frames add alot. Very good idea, very well done.

And the shapes and textures you make are woderful, ofcourse. :]

Like I've said elsewhere here, pieces like this are almost self-training stuff. The way I work normally (when I'm earning a buck) is very, very different from this. Working so nakedly exposes all my weak points, and in doing so it forces me to face those weak points. It's slow, painful stuff, but I can't seem to get at it any other way.

Thank you, sir. Kind words from a mighty artist.

So true. Throwing oneself into unfamiliar territory is very beneficial. Being stuck in one kind of workflow isn't.
Judging by how good these pieces are, I'd say you don't have that many weak points left to deal with. :]

Reminds me I should do that too.
Flat color... *shudders*
And cute big-eyed things on pink background is sheer horror. (a 'mightly artist', hahah!)
Should kick myself up to it, thanks for the inspiration. :]

I've got some blind spots, believe me, and for the business I'm in, they're huge. I get to deal with 'em this year or else. :P

(Though you are very kind, sir, and I thank you for it!)

Mighty thou ART. Keep on the Sacrifice theme. You're painting up a storm. That is so damn good for the chops!

I really, really love your coloring, as well as the expressive implementation of of your linework, borders, etc. Everything in your artwork complements the mood you portray very nicely. Another fantastic piece.

*Big hug!*

*hugstight* Thank you, o Master of the Lens! Sweet things to hear, indeed.

But man, the red-orange versus green-blue coloring is a great way of getting it across. And as always it's simple, clear, and graphic. I have mentioned that I'm pretty awed by your color use, right?

Hey you! You've been very kind to me right across the board. I owe you many thanks for that alone. My professional work is so different from this, it's both a breath of fresh air and a very serious challenge to my skill set. Working this "cleanly", minus rendering and heavy tonal work, takes everything I don't know and rubbing my face in it. This is good for me in the same sense that a brutal workout is good for me. I feel happy once it's done, but DAMN it's HARD.

Yeah, but I really love your professional stuff too. What really stands out, both professionally and the hobby stuff, is your use of color and opacity in general. I'm not really sure how to express being all fanboyish about that, so can I just say "fanboy" and have that work as shorthand?

I'm pretty sure I could build myself an awareness of color, but really am unsure how to do that.

*hugs* You're being gracious, you aren't being fanboyish in the least.

I love color! I love how its use applies to generating emotion and setting a stage. What I know about color is dwarfed by what I don't. Playing with color's the best way to learn.

As for building your color-awareness, there's a buncha things you can do. One is doing master copies (taking a work by an artist you dig and matching it as closely as you can). Another is plein air painting: going outside with watercolors, acrylics, oils, pastels, whatever you've got, and painting what you see. A third is making color studies from photos. That's good practice, and easy, too: there's always good photography to be had on the 'net.

Books: Making Color Sing by Jean Dobie's a good one. Itten's Principles of Color is another. And Richard Schmid's Alla Prima: everything I know about painting is an AWESOME book.

My man, you humble me. Thank you.

<3 I like it.

And that makes me happy. :D

omg r u ok????? don't kill urself, k?

And seriously, wistful may be one of my top music inspired sentiments. I can't wait to see some more!

ME OKAY NO SLIT WRITZ OR ANYTINK

*hugs* Tanks, mon.

I canna wait to do more. These feel intensely personal in addition to technically challenging. That feels like a good thing.

I'll buy you Alaskan sled dog teams if you'll not be emosads

Just come on out here, my man! That'll keep me and Iiji from being even CLOSE to emosads. :D

Gods, I know *that* feeling a little too well. D: Yikes. Beutiful work, however, m'dear. :)

*hugstight* Thank you, sweetie. *hugs*

MMMMMMM, music-art.

sad & lovely. most lovely.
(:

Nowhere near as wild and original as your work, mister, but thank you for the kudos. You doing okay?

no, not really. but i'm still working... not much else i can do.

Since there's not much within my power to do, I am sending along all the Healing Juju I can. If there's something more concrete I CAN do, you let me know and I'll do it.

This is really beautiful, I loved this alot.

Very kind of you to say so, sir.

I really love the color here, and your choice of species for the aggressors is great... if they are what I think they are, they're all species known for being super-aggressive and not very conventionally cute, to boot (despite the cartoonizations of some artists drawing many different cats or dogs with different shaped ears and calling them every species under the sun).

Gets the point across very nicely :>

*hugstight* Very, very gracious of you to say this. Man, nothing makes you dance quite like hearing from fellow artists that you hit the mark!!

Man, I feel like I know all these people. The smugness is right-on, and your color choices are very emotive. I haven't been too successful with flat coloring, but I'll have to try it again now :P

Hey, that's a big reason why I'm doing these pieces. Flat color scares me. Just like cartoony characters scare me! All my comfortable rendering stripped away.

Somehow, if you can tap into the universal among us, the ways and contexts within which we experience emotions, it seems like the technique becomes secondary, maybe even lower than that.

That could also be the booze talking. :P

*hugs*

*sexes your amazing art skills* 0w0 Your art never ceases to amaze me~! Magnifique! Or whatever..

OMG I am loving those mouths, Berbah. Srsly. c:

*hugstight* Thank you, sweetbean. Your support's the kind o' thing that keeps me trying.

:D... So does this mean I get a gold star?!

A big ol' gigantonormous one, right on your cute forehead!

:D Yaay! I can't see! Woo~ *toddles around with his new prize* 0w0

*holds up mirror* THERE. I don't want you getting hurt!

Wow, that is chaotic. Nifty, though. I really love the shadow transition on the blue figure - I'm guessing that's one of the scratchboard tools in Painter?

Hey Peg! Thank you! It's all ink pens and hard eraser. Scratchboard rake, fine pen and croquil. And you got it, the stripeys on the huddled form is the scratchboard rake.

Love the bold colours against the sketchy nature of this image. Reminds me all to well of my own life and people around me.

One of the things I aim for is channeling the emotion I'm interested in depicting while I'm working. Other folks can do this effortlessly, and I envy them for it, because for me it's a bear. Certain feelings (like this) can swamp the boat before I ever get something good on paper (or the digital canvas). They're hard to control. I'm glad you dig it, and that it hit the mark for you. Thank you.

I've been told I'm good at bringing emotion to pictures - but the simplicity in this one just strikes me as amazing.

Very kind of you to say so, critter. *hugs*

Of course - I say the truth.

emo fox!

SAD foxie.

i really enjoy how graphic this is. Very nice layout and very readable. I love the colors too. Keep up the great work darling. =)

I will do my best ma'am! Soon as I get a minit to myself, here, I'll be back on the case. You, meanwhile, keep on kickin' it like Beckham! You've been knockin' out some great work lately.

Thank you so much! It really means a lot coming from you =D Stay cool and don't work yourself to death yo! -=hug=-

Thank you, bean, for the wishes and the kindness of your words. I will do my bestest. Though I've got a long couple nights ahead before I get to rest. :P

I await more Kianian goodness with baited breath!

MWaha! And the same for you my dear!

Verra soon now, this I promise you. :D

Aside from the envy I feel towards your ability to depict such a thing so strikingly, this is a brill picture. Great stuff, definately the most interesting submission I've seen on this site in a very long time :F.

Sweet of you to drop by and say so! Feel no envy, I say. Art is part talent and mostly sweat.

oh gosh, I've been meaning to draw something pretty much exactly like this
I did a while back but it was much more abstract, and now I can't find it :x
Amazing work, I hope you upload some more things soon...!

Me too! It'll be a while yet. Life has me hopping right now.

Please post your piece on this subject, I'd love to see it!

I would if I could find iiiit, I don't think I have it anymore

Drat!

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1894610/
blarp. it's pretty silly and doodly.

Ah, dude~ I dig th' sketchy feel to this~ An' th' overall mood is perfectly captured~ Love it~

Thank you!! The song was a big inspiration (though the video's just plain silly).

I remember I faved this on my other account and if I can possibly fav it again I so will. Really nice job on the composition. Keep it upppp.

:3

Will do! :D Thank you!

Has anybody told you that the long-eared dude in the middle looks a lot like one of the mutant kangaroos in the Tank Girl movie?

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/.....ank-girl_l.jpg

fff...link broke...

*laughs* It's okay, I agree, he does! I hadn't done that intentionally BUT I am a big fan of Jamie Hewlitt's work, and clearly that creeped into this noodle.