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-

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-

Friday/Saturday

Okay, so now I’m back in the swing of things.

There’s a thing on art forums called a “jamboree.” I can’t really tell how that word is used, but it seems to mean either a collection of drawings wherein the artwork meets the criteria set by the person declaring the “jam” (diminutive of “jamboree”), or it means a collaborative effort on a particular project relating to something most closely resembling a comic book. That is to say, you can enter a “jig” in a jamboree which fits the jamboree’s criteria, or you can be part of a “jam” wherein you participate in a collaborative effort to turn out something genuinely comic-esque.

So, when I saw this “jam” over on PJ, I was very excited to see what it would produce, and I haven’t been disappointed so far. But, I couldn’t allow it to go by without trying to participate in this one. I’ve not participated in any draw-offs, any jams, or any collaborations since being a member, mostly because of time limitations, but I felt I could do a decent job on this one if I tried. I should, however, have done something about the color of the pencil lead. I thought I’d like working in only red … and I do, but it doesn’t necessarily scan or read well.

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.

God bless you, all.

-JDT-

Thursday

So, here I am, making a new blog. Why?

Well, I know that my DA journal will hold my journal entries, but I don't know how much or for how long. Also, I wanted a place to put more intimate thoughts. I have to figure out a way to get myself into a position to edit one entry, or create only one entry, and have it go to both places. When I get that figured out, I'm all set. :)

I guess I can refer friends that are supportive there back over here, or something like that.

Anyway, I'm really not sure why I'm starting a blog. I think, because it's free, I can post both my intimate thoughts, my strong feelings, and a place where I can be less intense. I don't like being confrontational on the 'Net with other artists, for some reason. Now, put me in an apologetics room or something, and when I'm in shape, it's another story. Right now, I'm a sissy, and I don't want to argue or fight with anyone.

Ugh. It's disgusting to say.

Okay, what I mean is, there are some things worth fighting for, and many, many more about which fighting is not worth it. Most things don't merit fighting, frankly. So, when I'm visiting my favorite forums, I usually don't post, or only say nice things. When I don't, it always comes back to haunt me.

So this is the beginning. It gives me a place, if I'm not mistaken, to post both my textual ideas and my artistic ones. I wonder if I can copy my artwork here? An art blog would be cool, and a LOT of other artists are doing it. As long as the sites remain free, there is a lot of art I want to publish. I just have to get it out of my head first.

I wonder about a webcomic, too. Could I do that? Do I have the stuff it takes to publish an ongoing comic, and be consistent with it? Hmm. More to ponder.

Well ... I have little to say here tonight. I have to post in DA still, and since that's ongoing, I suppose I can make the transition over the weekend. Maybe I'll do that.

Take care and God bless, all.
-JDT-