slr2moons | Artisic commentary: ambition and growth

It didn't occur to me in time to make my previous post's Admiration List, but something else I admire are people who can draw well anytime, anywhere. Particularly under pressure. I'm always agape at mangaka or comic artists who bang out gorgeous pics of their characters at cons. One of my DVDs has an omake video of Watase Yuu drawing a bishounen, surrounded by staring fans, being taped (thus the video), and under what had to of been a great deal of pressure. I was completely riveted as I watched. Oh sure, I do love seeing a bishounen appear before my very eyes, but what held me fascinated was watching Watase-sensei drawing her character flawlessly, with ease, surrounded by a huge audience and a camera recording it forever. D=

I...I can't do that. I would have been so nervous and stressed that managing a stick figure would have been an accomplishment. To sum up my problem, I feel great pressure to produce artistic perfection every time I try to draw. Even if I'm alone and drawing for myself! Let me tell you, there's not much out there I find more intimidating than a blank sheet of paper or Photoshop window, and knowing I have to fill it with something amazing. *shivers*

This is one of the reasons I am awed by the creator of the current webcomic I am reading, Questionable Content. Since 2003, this man, Jeph, has been drawing his comic and posting it online. The entire series is up for anyone to read, all the way from comic #01. As of the writing of this post, he's at #1404. That's a lot of drawing.

When Jeph began his webcomic, his art wasn't that great. Oh, you could tell his people were people, but...here, let me post you a link to the first page so you can see for yourself: QC page 1 (SFW). Not much going for him artistically, is there? I mention Jeph's less than glorious beginning because as you read the comic, his artwork improves before your eyes. Check out page 100 (contains a bra shot). His characters are no longer made of of straight lines, and his backgrounds are more thought out. Now try page 200 (SFW, but has the F-bomb). The lines have different weights, meaning they vary in thickness, rather than being all the same heavy line everywhere like you saw at page 100. Take a close look at the woman's eyes, where Jeph has made a huge artistic leap: he left the line open, her eyes aren't a solid ring. And again, more detail in the background. Page 300 (SFW): his characters now bend and appear more lively, they aren't just standing there. The lines have become more delicate, the shading has improved tremendously, and his costumes are more than just shirt and pants. Ladybug barrettes! So cute! :3 I have yet to read to page 400, so let me show you the most recent page for a real artistic shocker: the current page (no idea about SFW or not, as this will change depending on whenever you click it). WHOA!

Can you guess what I find so impressive about Jeph here?? Oh, yes. When he started his webcomic, Jeph knew he wasn't a great artist. He knew he would screw up, that his characters wouldn't be flawlessly drawn, that he had a long way to improve. Yet he did it anyway. He didn't procrastinate in the hopes becoming a better artist. He just dove right in, amateurish art and all, and he has left up his humble beginnings for everyone to see. Talk about personal! I never show anyone my high school art, or my early fanart from my Sailormoon days. It's so terrible and embarrassing how bad I was!

I have to admire Jeph twice over for those two things. His bravery and ambition has slapped me upside the head in the past month I've been reading through his series. I need to stop obsessing, stop worrying what everyone else will think if my art or toning isn't perfect. Just shut up and DO it, right? Yeah! XD

Now I'm all inspired, but I have to work. :P~~~~~~~ I want to bottle this feeling and open it again when I have the time to put it to good use for myself!!! Nrrrgh! *dives back into her current page of work*