panditty.com

I haven’t posted any art over the past few weeks as I’ve dedicated all of my being to writing the outline for Sticker Quest. I have really good days and I have really depressingly awful days where I just want to give up and pretend I never tried in the first place. Luckily for all of us, I can’t give up. Quitting Sticker Quest would only cause me to hate myself and who’d want to live with that?

The nice part about this obsession is that it’s really helped me cope with my culture shock and other things that have gone off in my life. I’m learning so much about myself and my limits (which I don’t think I’ve properly challenged yet).

I’m going to share some things that I’ve learned. They could be entirely wrong but here it is:

1. I’ve spent more time rewriting than writing. The way I pictured Sticker Quest a month ago is not how Sticker Quest is now. Characters and sequences have changed completely – but that’s okay because they’re better now.
2. Write down every bad idea so then only good ones are left.
3. Tell your outline to a critical, jerk friend, he’ll find every plot hole and make you hate yourself as you try to fix them. (You’re the best, Josh!)
4. Coincidences suck.
5. If you want to be awesome, you have to make sacrifices. That sucks too, but only temporarily.
6. Surround yourself with other creative people. Get rid of anyone who makes you sad or anxious. You don’t have time to feel anything but pure burning ambition!
7. Hipsters go and work at hipster cafes for a reason – free but slow wifi crashes Tumblr, so you get a lot done. (Also, tea-based beverages make me happy)

If I fail, I will blame Tumblr. If anything brings Sticker Quest crashing down, it will be porn and cat pictures.

Other accomplishments thus far:

• One of the side characters has been designed. (Wanna peak?)
• Many articles on story-telling and character creation have been devoured and bookmarked.
• Doodles to accompany certain scenes to help me visualize them.
• A job interview and a house-viewing. #lifeaccomplishment
• Many naps taken and much chocolate consumed.

IN OTHER NEWS!

I will be partaking in 24 hr Comic Book Day at Happy Harbor Comics in Edmonton. I will post more information that about that soon.

“Remember when all those people died exploring that cave? Yeah, let’s go there. I mean I am carrying a potion, we’ll be fine.”

My hand is glowing. That’s new and weird. Oh well, off to the forest!‪

Read the rest of this entry »

I have known the taste of salt water, 
and the smell of decaying forests, 
and the cracks in hundreds of sidewalks. 
I have loved the gas pedal, 
and the airport concourse, 
and the ever-changing time zones. 
In all these places, 
I thought I could find a home in not having one; 
I have chased the sun across the sky so many times, 
not yet ready to admit, 
you never catch up.

I don't know who wrote this, but I'd like to meet them and be their friend.

“What nobody tells people who are beginners — and I really wish someone had told this to me . . . is that all of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, and it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase. They quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know it’s normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

– Ira Glass (source)

This is exactly what I needed to read right now. I constantly feel like my art doesn’t live up to my own expectations. I constantly compare and measure against more skilled artists and feel like I’m making a horrible mistake with my life. Reading this soothes my anxieties and keeps me determined.

(Thanks Samwise!)

I’ve been sketching a lot more lately in my fancy new moleskine (thanks Mike)! I recently read an inspiring post by kateordie which has really fueled the creative fire. I wanted to pick out the best parts – but honestly, the whole thing really affected me as a beginner artist:

“I’m asked this at least once a day, and I always respond with a variation on the same answer, so here it is for the record: My advice.

Draw every day. Not once a week, not when you feel like it. Every single day. Draw when you’re happy. Draw when you’re sad, or angry, or excited. Draw on every surface you can find with every available tool. Study comics. Read as much as you can, find artists you love and then figure out why you love them. Apply those concepts to your work. Push yourself. If you aren’t satisfied, don’t get frustrated; try something new. Take classes, draw with your friends, show your work and accept constructive criticism. Carry a sketchbook with you at all times. Buy art, make friends with comic artists, show them what you do.

Promote yourself. Put your art online and tag it. Link to it. Send it to artists you respect. If you’re using tumblr, submit your art to every possible relevant blog and get it seen. Make fan art. Try new platforms and social media. Start with single-panel gags, work your way into sequential art. Always want more from yourself. Never get too comfortable.

Above all else, don’t get discouraged. It’s impossible to rid yourself entirely of moments of doubt, but know when to shake them off. Remind yourself how much you want to improve, how much you love to create. Think about the first time that something you drew made someone smile. That’s all it takes. I can’t paint like Alex Ross, I haven’t got the technical skill of Jill Thompson, I can’t colour like Dave Stewart, but I can draw on a post-it note and make my coworkers laugh. And that’s all you need. Webcomics and indie publications are proof that you don’t need a wealth of artistic ability to reach an audience; you just have to connect. Who knows – in ten years, maybe you will be just as good as your favourite artist. They all had to start somewhere, too.

Draw from experience. Draw from your heart. Redraw the same subject a dozen times. Treat yourself to some decent supplies. Never stop looking for inspiration. Never, ever talk down your work in front of anyone, especially yourself. Keep perspective. You will improve, you will develop, so don’t get impatient with yourself. In five years, your art will be better, so get excited for the change instead of being angry with where you are now.

I’ve only been putting my art online for seven months, but I work very hard and I’m proud of myself. It’s taking me to some incredible places. You can do it, too.”

I’ve still got a ways to go, I know, but I’ve started to approach my art with a positive outlook and I’ve never been more proud of every small achievement.

Here are some of my recent dinosaur-inspired sketches. I’m particularly proud of the top one!

Girl and Apatosaurus

Tea-Rex