Ah … well, I was working on my animation-cartoony-style stuff today, and got some things done at work. Meanwhile, things back at the ranch are progressing …
Artistically, one of the forums I frequent (www.penciljack.com) had a thread in it that I found wildly amusing in the light of where I’ve been over the last couple of months. I’ve agonized over it the idea of going to school a lot, and I’ve REALLY agonized over various ways to improve. I saw a lot of pros, a lot of people whose ability I deeply admire, post in response to that thread the various ways they have to break through the “plateaus” of improvement. It was relieving to first of all hear that, yes, these people that draw SO well all struggle with improving. It was also nice to hear that, of all the methods to get through that barrier when it arises, the most popular one, the one the pros use, is to draw through it.
That helped me, a lot. I also learned that, many artists struggle and hit a wall when they’re trying to adapt or develop a new style. It’s common. And it seemed common to have these come up on a cyclical basis, so I’m not that far away from where I should be.
Based on that, I can relax and just draw. Just keep drawing. And that, dear friends, is what I intend to do.
Art school helps, there’s no doubt about it. But it seemed to be an individual thing as to whether it would be of benefit because of learning or because of “guidance” from “art instructors.” Most seemed to feel that it helped, but wasn’t absolutely necessary. And everyone thought that practice, practice, practice was the best solution of all. It was the only thing I saw listed consistently as a cure for the barrier.
I can now exhale. I’ve not been so different after all. I wonder, as I wander through the many new ways I’m trying to teach myself to draw, the styles I’m “exploring,” if I’ll forget the way that I once had of drawing in that great, realistic, very amalgamated style? I wonder if you can work so hard on everything else that you forget where from you came, and that’s a deep concern for me. I saw a drawing today that looked like the direction I was going. I would have called it “old school,” I suppose. It’s what I wanted for my style not so long ago, in the drawing timeline. It was as recent as the LAST time I worked seriously on my art. Today it made me yearn. I yearned for the ability to do it all – to draw in that amazingly beautiful, simplistic way that animators do … to draw in that realistic, wonderfully fun way that made me want to draw comics in the first place … and to blend the two somehow, to find that ability that the few blessed have: Skottie Young, Joe Maduriera, J. Scott Campbell, and all the others that have found a way to make it happen. I want to draw manga-style and anime style and western style. I want to do portraits like I’ve seen on DA, and do sequentials too. I want to render fully, render partially, and paint and sketch like the pros. I want it all. I should have gone to school when I had the chance. I had it more than once, you know. And I blew it each time.
Now, that chance is really gone. And even if I have a chance to do something in school, I think I’m being directed in a different – and I mean TOTALLY different – direction. I think, should I have time to lament about that someday, that forcing it through my fingertips will be therapeutic. I’m committed to doing something that I don’t think I’ll like as much as art, but I love it too – in a different way. Schooling’s not necessarily critical to that field either, but just like art, it sure doesn’t hurt.
Insert heavy sigh here.
So many paths not taken. I was young enough once to have done it all … to have gone down both roads and have been happy with myself. Instead, I have a pocketful of regrets and am a shadow of what I could have been. I am probably never going to be completely happy until I stand with my Savior in glory, but until then, I’ll always have something that I wish I could have done differently. But, had I flowed that way, I would have been so much happier with myself. I can’t go back, oh Lord, but if there was just one thing in my life I could do differently, I think I would direct myself that way, and follow that convolution of life roads. Where would I be now? I don’t know, but I imagine I’d be happier with what I do for a living.
And, that provides me with a necessary segue into my NEXT amazing dissertation, the work front!
Really, there’s nothing amazing here. I have been asked to be more detailed about what forms I work on in the database; I’ve been asked to assume more of a role in leading these projects, and that’s really good. That will be very useful to me at other places, with future contracts. But, that also means I can’t surf the web while I’m at work like I did on my last project. They were so nice to me … they didn’t care what I did with my free time as long as I did the things they asked. This company’s a bit more fussy about time – and it seems, dear readers, that they are so MUCH so that they’re going to ask me to account for no less than 6.75 of my 8.0 hours there, not to mention they want to know WHAT I did with those hours and on what I worked. Hmm. New situation, to be sure. I have tickets to resolve, I have databases to develop, and I have administrative record keeping with which to keep up. So far, it’s taking me MUCH longer than 6.75 hours to do all that, and I don’t see that changing.
The good news, however, is that the things I wasn’t expected to do before the end of tomorrow I finished today, including a problem that had my trainer confused and stumped. He said we’d both work on it. I don’t need to do that. And, on one other matter, he wasn’t able to figure something out and I came up with a general concept and he perfected the logic for it. A genuine tag-team effort on that one, and it works like a champ. The client should be pleased.
So, his confidence in me rose a large number of notches today. And that, dear friends, is a VERY good thing.
Well, not much else to say, gang. I have to do some more experimentation with art styles, but maybe not tonight. I have to pray – I haven’t done that in some time in a personal, dedicated time way. And the baby is beating up mommy again, so I’ll have to assist.
God bless you all. I’ll remember you in my prayers, and hope you’ll keep praying for me.
-JDT-
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Tuesday
I’ve been working diligently on getting myself up to speed for my job … today. After three weeks.
For the record, I’m sorry about that. I’m going to get a lot busier here, getting things done. I have so much to try and figure out, and don’t even know how to begin. But, starting tomorrow, the guy training me is going to have to ask me to assume more of a lead role in about four projects. One in particular is critical, because the client is the largest (and therefore the most income-generating) client we have; and she has a deadline of the end of the month.
So, I’m still working on it. I have to; please pray again. And I, in return, am praying for all of you.
Artistically, I’m doing something that I’ve known I should do but haven’t been doing for a long time. I want a “realistic cartoon” style of art, right? Been saying that for weeks now, and all o’ you have read my belly-aching. Now, I have started working with spheres. It’s no big deal, but recently, I’ve started dreaming about art. Once in a while, I dream about art technique. I don’t put a lot of credence in these things, but occasionally, they actually work. This is one of those times.
By using a sphere as the BASE for a head, I can make the head conform to a lot of different shapes, all depending on the stuff I add TO that sphere. In other words, the sphere is only the beginning, and not the final shape, as I previously understood. No, I CAN use the sphere that way if I wanted to, but that’s not the end of it. With some creativity, I can append other shapes onto the sphere and form heads in any shape I’d like.
Now, this is nothing new to anyone who’s been drawing for more than a few months. That whole “egg-shaped” myth is the biggest draw-back to getting started in drawing heads consistently and from any angle. What I was doing last night was starting with a sphere, then using a “crooked U” shaped jaw that was anchored on the sphere to correspond to the mandible. When I do it this way, and make sure to draw THROUGH your work for later reference, the head seems to turn out consistently.
Now, during a small “I need to think” break, I tried it again on a pad with a pen. No such luck. I struggled just the same, and MAN do I need to work on noses. But then, after I got home, I realized that I wasn’t doing it RIGHT. I was still using the sphere as the whole thing, with the jaw contained within the bounds instead of added atop the sphere. So I experimented at home, and voila! – the results were there.
So now, if any of you animator-types out there want to tell me what I’m doing that seems to flatten my drawings, I’d be eternally grateful. I want a rich, fullness and body to the drawing (sounds like a beer commercial, don’t it??), but I can’t seem to get there. Tips, anyone?
Anyway, I’m happier. I’m going to try and do a couple of the assignments from my animation book tonight and see what happens. I have to get started on the VB.NET stuff, and that’s going to happen soon, but right now, I want to break out of this slump I’m in, and try to reach a new level.
On the home front, things are good. Nothing really new to tell you; I’m terribly unhappy with the Conan “drawing” I posted, and I’ll be pulling it out soon. I’m going to actually replace it. Once in a while, I still want to do something very realistic (I won’t even get into “photorealistic” dreams at this point), but my heart is with the animator style. Joe Mad, you’re the man. A nice blend of both worlds, and I would give a lot be have that ability.
Writing. Nothing so far. I did a couple of things on DeviantArt, but nobody read it. If they did, they didn’t comment. And I haven’t had the time to sit and just … write. There’s so much more stuff that has to happen, and I wish I could do it more seriously. I want to do it. I want to do it bad. Somebody let me do it!! ;)
All right, kids, baby’s fussing, and unpacking doesn’t happen by psychokenesis, no matter how I try. Take care, behave, and be happy.
God bless each of you.
-JDT-
For the record, I’m sorry about that. I’m going to get a lot busier here, getting things done. I have so much to try and figure out, and don’t even know how to begin. But, starting tomorrow, the guy training me is going to have to ask me to assume more of a lead role in about four projects. One in particular is critical, because the client is the largest (and therefore the most income-generating) client we have; and she has a deadline of the end of the month.
So, I’m still working on it. I have to; please pray again. And I, in return, am praying for all of you.
Artistically, I’m doing something that I’ve known I should do but haven’t been doing for a long time. I want a “realistic cartoon” style of art, right? Been saying that for weeks now, and all o’ you have read my belly-aching. Now, I have started working with spheres. It’s no big deal, but recently, I’ve started dreaming about art. Once in a while, I dream about art technique. I don’t put a lot of credence in these things, but occasionally, they actually work. This is one of those times.
By using a sphere as the BASE for a head, I can make the head conform to a lot of different shapes, all depending on the stuff I add TO that sphere. In other words, the sphere is only the beginning, and not the final shape, as I previously understood. No, I CAN use the sphere that way if I wanted to, but that’s not the end of it. With some creativity, I can append other shapes onto the sphere and form heads in any shape I’d like.
Now, this is nothing new to anyone who’s been drawing for more than a few months. That whole “egg-shaped” myth is the biggest draw-back to getting started in drawing heads consistently and from any angle. What I was doing last night was starting with a sphere, then using a “crooked U” shaped jaw that was anchored on the sphere to correspond to the mandible. When I do it this way, and make sure to draw THROUGH your work for later reference, the head seems to turn out consistently.
Now, during a small “I need to think” break, I tried it again on a pad with a pen. No such luck. I struggled just the same, and MAN do I need to work on noses. But then, after I got home, I realized that I wasn’t doing it RIGHT. I was still using the sphere as the whole thing, with the jaw contained within the bounds instead of added atop the sphere. So I experimented at home, and voila! – the results were there.
So now, if any of you animator-types out there want to tell me what I’m doing that seems to flatten my drawings, I’d be eternally grateful. I want a rich, fullness and body to the drawing (sounds like a beer commercial, don’t it??), but I can’t seem to get there. Tips, anyone?
Anyway, I’m happier. I’m going to try and do a couple of the assignments from my animation book tonight and see what happens. I have to get started on the VB.NET stuff, and that’s going to happen soon, but right now, I want to break out of this slump I’m in, and try to reach a new level.
On the home front, things are good. Nothing really new to tell you; I’m terribly unhappy with the Conan “drawing” I posted, and I’ll be pulling it out soon. I’m going to actually replace it. Once in a while, I still want to do something very realistic (I won’t even get into “photorealistic” dreams at this point), but my heart is with the animator style. Joe Mad, you’re the man. A nice blend of both worlds, and I would give a lot be have that ability.
Writing. Nothing so far. I did a couple of things on DeviantArt, but nobody read it. If they did, they didn’t comment. And I haven’t had the time to sit and just … write. There’s so much more stuff that has to happen, and I wish I could do it more seriously. I want to do it. I want to do it bad. Somebody let me do it!! ;)
All right, kids, baby’s fussing, and unpacking doesn’t happen by psychokenesis, no matter how I try. Take care, behave, and be happy.
God bless each of you.
-JDT-
Monday, October 03, 2005
Monday
I got some work done today in the art arena, but I didn’t do much else.
My wife got some unpacking done, and she’s really been great. I came home from work early – left at noon – and simply passed out at about 4:45 p.m. I hope, with everything in me, that I won’t be up all night. I need to get a good night’s sleep if I want to beat this stupid cold. It’s not fun to miss so much work right out of the gate, in the first month of being employed at a place that seems kind of … I don’t know. Different. More … uptight, I guess.
So, I have to watch my P’s and Q’s, and make sure that I do the things they want. What they seem to want is to have me assume more and more MS Access development projects from the guy who’s “training” me, so he can move on. With all that in front of me, I have to adjust the way I think about things and handle my priorities. I have to try and do more faster, and that’s not going to be easy. I’ve never been a developer before, and that’s a bit disconcerting. It’s a new arena, and I feel like I need more hand-holding than I should.
Ah, well. I’ll do what I can. If you’re a praying person, any prayers you want to toss up on my behalf are welcome.
So, the passage of time has afforded me an opportunity to look over the drawing that I put up over the weekend on various sites, and I must say, I’m not happy with it. I’m going to re-do it, but I’m not sure how. I’ve seen some really great marker work done lately, and I don’t have any markers, but I’ll look at doing something in ink. I think it would be good for me.
On the programming front … well, there is no programming front right now. I have to get cracking on that ASAP, but right now, the unpacking takes precedence. I don’t have any way of working efficiently right now, and I’ll have to review and start over. So, when that starts up, it’s something on which I have to put a lot of emphasis. I just don’t have a lot of confidence in myself right now and I’m not sure I’ll survive where I am for a year.
Prayers. Sorry to be greedy.
Artistically speaking, I’m struggling again. I go through this on a cyclical basis. I get into it, I get going good, and I hit a wall wherein my art seems to actually get worse. I think, in these instances, I need to work on the drills for life-drawing, but that’s not as easy to do as it is in a classroom setting. I have to see what’s around me, with what subjects I have to work, and what time is available. The other variable is the baby. She’s not undemanding, and isn’t getting any better right now.
Well … enough complaining. I tried several sketches today, and they were so-so. I tried it in four different ways: realistic (as much so as I can do with my limited ability), semi-realistic, value-based and cartoony. I really want to learn that whole animation-style, that “Joe Maduriera” feel to my stuff, or even more so, toward Skottie Young, or more so. I don’t know. I just want to get there and I can’t seem to do it no matter what I do. I know I’ll hear about life drawing, life drawing, life drawing, but I’ve yet to see anyone explain the “magic” in life drawing that enables you to do other styles, or even develop one of your own. Any ideas, anyone?
Well, I’ve got to run. I’ll see if posting those sketches yields any feedback from the “gang” out here on the ‘Net, but I’m really, REALLY hesitant to post on PencilJack anymore. I get nothing for crits, and even if I do, they don’t really direct me toward improvement; they only show me what I do wrong.
Oh well. Talk to you later, gang.
God bless,
-JDT-
My wife got some unpacking done, and she’s really been great. I came home from work early – left at noon – and simply passed out at about 4:45 p.m. I hope, with everything in me, that I won’t be up all night. I need to get a good night’s sleep if I want to beat this stupid cold. It’s not fun to miss so much work right out of the gate, in the first month of being employed at a place that seems kind of … I don’t know. Different. More … uptight, I guess.
So, I have to watch my P’s and Q’s, and make sure that I do the things they want. What they seem to want is to have me assume more and more MS Access development projects from the guy who’s “training” me, so he can move on. With all that in front of me, I have to adjust the way I think about things and handle my priorities. I have to try and do more faster, and that’s not going to be easy. I’ve never been a developer before, and that’s a bit disconcerting. It’s a new arena, and I feel like I need more hand-holding than I should.
Ah, well. I’ll do what I can. If you’re a praying person, any prayers you want to toss up on my behalf are welcome.
So, the passage of time has afforded me an opportunity to look over the drawing that I put up over the weekend on various sites, and I must say, I’m not happy with it. I’m going to re-do it, but I’m not sure how. I’ve seen some really great marker work done lately, and I don’t have any markers, but I’ll look at doing something in ink. I think it would be good for me.
On the programming front … well, there is no programming front right now. I have to get cracking on that ASAP, but right now, the unpacking takes precedence. I don’t have any way of working efficiently right now, and I’ll have to review and start over. So, when that starts up, it’s something on which I have to put a lot of emphasis. I just don’t have a lot of confidence in myself right now and I’m not sure I’ll survive where I am for a year.
Prayers. Sorry to be greedy.
Artistically speaking, I’m struggling again. I go through this on a cyclical basis. I get into it, I get going good, and I hit a wall wherein my art seems to actually get worse. I think, in these instances, I need to work on the drills for life-drawing, but that’s not as easy to do as it is in a classroom setting. I have to see what’s around me, with what subjects I have to work, and what time is available. The other variable is the baby. She’s not undemanding, and isn’t getting any better right now.
Well … enough complaining. I tried several sketches today, and they were so-so. I tried it in four different ways: realistic (as much so as I can do with my limited ability), semi-realistic, value-based and cartoony. I really want to learn that whole animation-style, that “Joe Maduriera” feel to my stuff, or even more so, toward Skottie Young, or more so. I don’t know. I just want to get there and I can’t seem to do it no matter what I do. I know I’ll hear about life drawing, life drawing, life drawing, but I’ve yet to see anyone explain the “magic” in life drawing that enables you to do other styles, or even develop one of your own. Any ideas, anyone?
Well, I’ve got to run. I’ll see if posting those sketches yields any feedback from the “gang” out here on the ‘Net, but I’m really, REALLY hesitant to post on PencilJack anymore. I get nothing for crits, and even if I do, they don’t really direct me toward improvement; they only show me what I do wrong.
Oh well. Talk to you later, gang.
God bless,
-JDT-
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Sunday
Well, I did finally unpack my art supplies and set up my desk, for the most part. That means that I can draw again, so I've been doing that a bit last night and today.
It was good to feel it again.
Last night, I worked diligently on a completely-digital drawing of Conan the Barbarian. I was thinking about submitting it to the PencilJack.com draw-off of Conan, but I haven't returned to it yet today. Also, I don't like the idea of "competing" for votes right now ... I've no confidence in my abilities at this point, and I'm still trying to figure out how to draw in the "style" that I like, which is much harder than I thought. To me, that simply highlights how lacking I am in either training or talent. Whichever is no big deal, though, because I draw only for me.
So, this morning I decided to continue with Robert E. Howard's barbarian hero, and I did this one. This is the rendering I did, and I can't explain to you why the scannings never turn out as well as the original renderings do. Sorry.
At any rate, I was kind of happy with it. I did this with a "Sketch and Wash" pencil, which is nice but a bit too soft for my liking. I really want to try the "wash" part though, so I'll leave it around.
I also tried some Batman sketches in a new style (my cartoony look), but they're roughs, and I don't want to clutter the blog sight.
I'll take today to draw again, and just rest. I'm a bit under the weather, but I feel better now than I did a few hours ago. I think if I can survive the morning tomorrow (Monday), I'll be okay. I hope so; I just can't afford to miss work very often.
Well, the football games are on and I really need to relax, so good-bye for now, and may you all have great days.
God bless,
-JDT-
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Friday/Saturday
Okay, so now I’m back in the swing of things.
I added this one later in the same thread; it was sort of a request.
And I didn’t do a background, but I want to add one if I get the time. I should honestly work at this once in a while; I’ve not done a full composition for a long, long time. I want to ensure that I can do a full composition. I’m not entirely confident of that.
Well, anyway, for what it’s worth, here’s my jig:
Of course, this isn’t full-size, but you get the idea. Actually, it looks better smaller, frankly.
This could be a cool avatar, now that I think about it.
So anyway, I want to do more stuff with a purpose like this, because even this fifteen minute to half-hour jig was a ton of fun, and it gave me a purpose for my art. I need that, I think. I need to have a direction for it, so that I can do things differently than I have before. To be really, really honest with you, whomever you may be, I should have sat down and spend some time on this; I should have done the background first, then added Zim in at the end. I should, in short, do things right, and having a direction for my art like this helps.I added this one later in the same thread; it was sort of a request.
I wonder if I can do sequentials? Hmm.
-JDT-
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