More than likely, I'm not going to make it to 31 drawings by this Friday. That being said, I'm currently at 20 drawings of varying success and quality, and if I had to stop today (I don't plan to, but you never know what life will throw you), I'd call this Inktober a success! My art output has been very light as of late, so producing 20 drawings in 28 days is a win in my book, especially considering I am proud of (most of) them.

This October, I've also finished some concept work I can't show you, for a project I can't tell you about. I will say that I am extremely proud of what I accomplished, I felt like I really pushed myself, and if/when I can show it I will. I think there may be some more art in that universe done soon, but we'll see. Really wish I could share!

Ok, back to Inktober and over-analyzing. Here's what I learned from week 4.

What I've Learned So Far

• I like a clean-ish line (a la Inktober 15 below). I've experimented with really varied lines, and unvaried lines and I feel that my personal preference is somewhere in the middle. I think I've gravitated there most of the time anyhow, but it's good to reassess every now and again.
• I need to stop 'cheating out' on faces and expressions. I think I'm more capable than I give myself credit for, and I need to just try and produce the best work I can without the shortcuts.
• I can draw cute and pretty women! I've been accused of drawing boxy, ugly women which, hey 'beauty in the eye of the beholder' and 'if it's good enough for Katsuhiro Otomo', but it's nice to know I have it in me. I'm never gonna draw pinups, but that's more so because I find that a bit gross and misogynistic more than anything else.
• I need to draw really terrible pictures every once in a while. I tend to think that every one has to be a winner, and if I don't feel like I'm going to put down a winner, I freeze up and don't move forward. It's almost like exercising demons in a way. Draw the terrible pictures so the good ones can be free.
• I find drawing details therapeutic. I need to find a fine line, but it can be a very zen experience drawing every ringlet of chainmail on a goblin. I can itchy sometimes if there's not enough detail in a drawing. Pros and cons to that I'm sure.

Here's the output for week four.

Labels: brush pen, goblins, ink, Inktober, Johnny Arcade, robots, video games, whales