Bouncing back...and upcoming plans!

Hi all! You may have notice that I had a huge rant about being sick, and took it down. I did it because I have been trying to keep my writing more concise on this blog. Also, I feel like I was whining.

But the point I made was simple: I got really sick because I haven't been eating or sleeping properly. So I have decided that from now on I am going to put my health on top priority, even if it means it will take me a bit longer to reach my goals.

Right now, I am still sick. Which sucks. But I am getting organized for the next couple of months, and am extraordinarily excited!

Dream Game

First off, our assignments are changing from weeklies to more project-based, which means more time for creativity and awesomeness! I hope to be especially devoted to my production project: developing my "dream game" complete with concept designs, plot, the "world" etc.

NANOWRIMO

This ties in to something I've wanted to do for a while, and will actually take the plunge to do so this November: NANOWRIMO! For those who are not familiar with this event, it is short for: National Novel Writing Month. It's a non profit organization that's been running for a few years. Each November, writers and aspiring authors set a personal goal to complete a 50,000 word novel within 30 days. If you make it, you don't really get anything besides a "winner" title. It's not a contest, but something you do for yourself. A sort of marathon for writers.

So I'll be participating in that. Even if I don't manage to "win," I know it's better to have tried than not at all. And I look at this as an opportunity to develop my story...which will tie back into the art I'm doing for school.

Drawing and drawing and so on

So all of that don't sound like much, but by the end of the year, it should form fertile ground for lots more drawings and paintings. (especially with the dream game assignment.) When the time comes, I will see what direction I am headed. I suspect I will start thinking about portfolio/demo reel/graduation.

Meanwhile, I am going to concentrate on getting better so I can start those plans =)

Woodsgirl - sketch

Just an idea, not much of a story behind her.

3D - Animation - The Balloon Tree

Ironically, I had an easier time animating than dealing with composition and camera moves -_- gah!!!

If I have to change it I would fix up the beginning segment, make the foreground less distracting, and eliminate that weird pan. etc etc.

But, t'was fun...to a certain extent XD

Butterfly Trail - Final

This is as far as I took the painting. The changes are subtle: refined the face and colors a bit more, cleaned up the outfit so it's not as shreddy. (like storyteller had pointed out in her comment XD) There are some exciting projects coming up that require concept designs. I am curious to see what I am able to come up with at this stage.

School's been kicking my ass for the past couple of weeks. (I have a feeling this isn't the first time I've posted that sentiment, more like the 1000th time) But, in a painfully masochistic way, I am happy. I want to get better.

Journal No. 01 - I can't draw

This may sound silly, but today I suddenly realise that I can't draw very well. But that's ok! See, I have been looking at it the wrong way and frustrating myself. I have lots of trouble maintaining a sketchbook and have always felt that I wasn't as good or passionate as the artists who are able to fill up books upon books with doodles and sketches. I have often doubted my abilities because I think I'm capable of better work when I am painting, as opposed to drawing. And it baffled me because I felt that painting was a natural "next step" - something you master after you have gotten good at drawing.

It seems, though, that that is not the case. Maybe I got that impression ingrained into my mind because most of the painters I admire can draw amazingly. But today, as I was sketching away and getting frustrated at my line work, I realise that my approach was merely backwards. Most people I know start out drawing with pencil and paper, but from what I can remember, my first few art pieces (the ones that I actually liked) were all paintings. I am a color-pusher and I love the feeling of broad strokes paint being manipulated and shaped into form. Because of that, I never properly trained myself in line. I have relied all too heavily on color and a bit of tone to define form. When I do draw, I tend to scribble and cross hatch, in what I believe is a subconscious attempt to recreate the "space" that paint offers.

So after that DOH! moment, I realise that I need to start practicing "real" drawing so I don't need to be afraid of lines anymore, nor get frustrated and doubt my abilities to improve. Of course, there are many other areas I need to work on, and even painting is a series of constant realisations for me (the more I paint, the more I find out just how much more I have to learn.) But I know that drawing/linework is one of my weakest areas, and so I must bring it up to par.

I know the way I write may sound like I think I'm a special case, but that's not true. It's a personal lightbulb moment for me, but I'm sure many artists start out the same way (paint first, line later.) I think every artist starts out differently, but in the end we all need to improve the same set of tools as we strive for constant growth.