Setting goals and moving forward.

Its obvious by now that I set the bar too high for this Inktober. I wanted to produce quality and entertaining comics, and I found myself rushing and taking shortcuts just to finish anything at all. This isn't helping me create art every day, and its starting to make me dread working on art at all. Completely opposite of the intentions I had originally set.

I want to want to work on art every day. I want to come home excited to make progress, or start a new piece. I know that at a certain point discipline will have to take over and I'll just have to keep going - but I don't want to feel compelled to make shitty art in order to meet some arbitrary deadline. If it takes me two days to make a comic, then so be it. I'll still have fun making the comic, because I'm not desperate to get something out the door.

I have a few other projects in mind to keep me going, however. I want to start up a doodle diary, where I do a quick sketch or inked drawing every day about something relevant or interesting. I want to try another 30 day challenge, albeit something more simple:

I also want to make a "photo album" of places I've been, with small watercolor/acrylic paintings of key locations from those places. That, I expect to be a longer project, and don't feel the need to prioritize it at this time.

And finally, I have to finish the paintings I'm making as gifts this year for friends.

So I still have plenty of art on my plate :) I just need to hurry up and make it.
Or rather.... slow down and make it.

As long as I keep going.

Bwuh

Despite my struggles, I find myself unable to keep up with the challenges of this contest. Sure, it would be easy enough to produce a simple inked sketch, as I had done when my computer was out of commission. However, now that I'm back to digital art, I know I am capable of more. I've been working hard on my next piece, but it its not yet finished and I need to get some sleep. I cannot post half-finished work.

Since the goal of my participation in this was to create art every day, I still find myself in line with meeting that goal. I wont allow myself to produce rushed "filler" pieces in order to meet some arbitrary requirement, while neglecting the work I truly wish to finish.

That being said, I'll continue working on my next comic, and post it when I'm done. As long as I'm art-ing every day, I still consider this a success.

Heaven

Break Away

I'm horrible at doing comics, apparently. I tend to prefer sketches.

Woot I'm back!

Yay!

So my computer is up and running again, as is Photoshop. I have a full glass of wine and I'm ready to go. Due to mental exhaustion after everything, I'm being easy on myself and calling this my inktober pic today. Tomorrow I'll more than make up for it by starting on my comics again.


So stoked :D

Anxiety

Dream

And this completes my endless series!

I've finally got my computer going again, but have hesitated installing Photoshop. I just have a feeling its going to be a pain, and I don't want to spend the energy at the end of the day with more computer issues. I'll install it on Saturday.

Then I should be able to get back to my comics. Until then, I'll be doing a few more drawings by hand. 

I just need to figure out what.

Death

I am become death

Delirium

Well... Rules don't specify black ink. I couldn't in good conscience use anything but color on this one.

Destruction

Destruction - this one ended up a little darker than I had originally wanted, but still works.

Destiny

Despair

Despair

Desire

Uploading from the road: Tilda Swindon as Neil Gaiman's character Desire.

In the End

So... of all the bad luck to happen, my hard drive has crashed. I'm working on recovering my programs, but just reinstalled Windows a few hours ago and haven't made time to reinstall my Adobe Suite. I may have to the same again for Friday since I'm leaving town immediately after work

In the meantime, here is an ink drawing I did while my computer was loading drivers. Its a tribute to the character Severin in the film "Shortbus."

I plan on resuming and making up more of my comics this weekend.

...if I get everything back to normal.

In the End

We all bear the scars
Yeah, we all feign a laugh
We all cry in the dark
Get cut off before we start
And as your first act begins
You realise they're all waiting
For a fall, for a flaw, for the end
And there's a past stained with tears
Could you talk to quiet my fears
Could you pull me aside
Just to acknowledge that i've tried
As your last breath begins
Contently take it in
Cause we all get it in
The end
And as your last breath begins
You find your demon's your best friend
And we all get it in
The end

Seeking Solace

Dark

I really liked the sketched look with this one, so I decided to keep it that way and just polish it a little.

Light

Angler beast!

Love

Introduction

Here is post 1! Happy Inktober :)