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No excuse!
23/7/09 15:42Finishing the character design for the (human) lead of my manga short story is like pulling teeth, but then, I knew it would be. Right now I'm neck-deep in lettering the developing plots of Nana and Skip, and NRRRGH but I want to dive into drawing my own!! BUT I CAN'T. I will NOT let myself take the easy way out and just draw whatever. Inconsistent artwork is the hallmark of an amateur, and that is something I refuse to let myself be. My pride in both my own artwork and proving the value of the manga style AND of webcomics will not let me do this half-assed.
Something else also has great sway over my refusal to chuck it and draw whatever. I will always remember my art college as an expensive joke, but I did manage to learn a handful of valuable things, one of which has really stuck with me:
In art, you have no excuse for error.
It's not like you're in the middle of a speech, where you can't stop yourself from sneezing. You aren't running a race where if someone falls, they could take you with them. It certainly isn't a game of chance. You aren't in the middle of a massively busy movie set, where five different people are trying to make sure your costumes, makeup, fake blood, and what have you all match in continuity.
No. With artwork, you have time. Time to research, Time to plan. Time to carefully prevent mistakes. Time to trace back the history of the western saddle and chose the design that fits your decade. Time to plan out your work schedule and give extra hours to difficult scenes so you won't be forced to rush them and have them reflect it. Time to make sure that if you design a costume covered in jewels, polka-dots, and plaid, you really are willing to draw all those jewels, polka-dots, and plaid for their every appearance.
If you DO err in art, you have no one to blame but yourself. You were too lazy, or irresponsible, or didn't think things through. So learn from your mistakes and don't do it again.
Yes, there can be extenuating circumstances like computer death *knocks on wood*, clients with unrealistic demands, or plain bad judgment. But for the most part??? No excuse.
I should take my own advice and get back to work. It is like pulling teeth, but I AM going to finish. Just watch me!
Something else also has great sway over my refusal to chuck it and draw whatever. I will always remember my art college as an expensive joke, but I did manage to learn a handful of valuable things, one of which has really stuck with me:
In art, you have no excuse for error.
It's not like you're in the middle of a speech, where you can't stop yourself from sneezing. You aren't running a race where if someone falls, they could take you with them. It certainly isn't a game of chance. You aren't in the middle of a massively busy movie set, where five different people are trying to make sure your costumes, makeup, fake blood, and what have you all match in continuity.
No. With artwork, you have time. Time to research, Time to plan. Time to carefully prevent mistakes. Time to trace back the history of the western saddle and chose the design that fits your decade. Time to plan out your work schedule and give extra hours to difficult scenes so you won't be forced to rush them and have them reflect it. Time to make sure that if you design a costume covered in jewels, polka-dots, and plaid, you really are willing to draw all those jewels, polka-dots, and plaid for their every appearance.
If you DO err in art, you have no one to blame but yourself. You were too lazy, or irresponsible, or didn't think things through. So learn from your mistakes and don't do it again.
Yes, there can be extenuating circumstances like computer death *knocks on wood*, clients with unrealistic demands, or plain bad judgment. But for the most part??? No excuse.
I should take my own advice and get back to work. It is like pulling teeth, but I AM going to finish. Just watch me!
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