(Started 2.12.23 - Finished 7.1.24)

I meditated during the holidays, and ate mostly just pizza, and pondered my drawing habits. Not so much technique but how I feel about drawing and what drawing means to me. Just once more I want to say, I HATE linework. I don't want to waste 1-2 hours on something that just defines the target cleanly, and then think it should be cleaner, because cleaner means better and professional. I don't know how other artists feel about lineart, but for me, as long as the shapes are right and idea comes across clearly, then I don't think I should care any more. So many of my works have been stalled or abandoned because linework wasn't good enough. I put more emphasis on a thing's form over its nature, over the idea or story I wanted to tell with a picture.

I had a clean linework ready for this Riolu, but I ditched it and did it over with an Airbrush. It took less than 30 minutes to complete, and the colors and shading another 30 minutes. I had this done in just an hour! I was astounded.

I didn't give any more attention or focus on the linework than I needed to. Once her toes were recognizable, I left them be, didn't need to define bones or muscles underneath. Once her eye looked piercing and focused, that's all it needed to look like. Then I moved on, all the happier. It's swimming from deep end of the pool to shallow end where it gets better. (I've been swimming a lot recently, good hobby. Highly relaxing.)

This is my new milestone in art. Not technically but mentally.

I want to quickly shout out Saltyxodium (https://twitter.com/SXodium). I learned a lot watching his streams on Twitch and Picarto.

Pokemon © Nintendo and GameFreak
Illustration © me