Sketch Diary: Perspective work is hard

So this was supposed to be a top down type of perspective drawing. But I didn't build a grid well for the head so it doesn't quite work.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Sitting on a floating square

Just a quick in my small sketch pad that I keep on my desk. I'm trying to work on perspectives more but it's really hard for me. My drawings are usually very flat, I think.

with love - m

Sketch Diary: Sitting on a ledge in color

Played with colors here. I like the skin. Fabric looks ok from a distance but I didn't get the smoothness like I wanted. Hair just fell flat. I don't have many purples. This was on thin paper so I couldn't rework the colors or overlay much at all without ruining the paper. Ah well. Still fun.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Inktober Day 21 - doing the up-do

Another quick inked drawing. I wasn't thrilled with the original pencil sketch but I like this inked version a bit more.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Inktober 20 - Slender all over

Ain't she cute?! I don't usually draw thin styles like this but it was really fun to try. I hope to keep trying more varied shapes of people.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Inktober 19 - 'the page is too small' portrait inked

Quick inked sketch using a new brushpen. Gotta use it on bigger paper. I don't have the brush control for those tiny skinny lines yet.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Inktober Day 18 - Birdperson inspired inked

Ooooo isn't he just the hunkiest. I'm not sure why but I love how this turned out. For a goof around sketch, I'm pleased as punch.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Unimpressed flower girl

Didn't intend for her to look so sassy but that must have been what I was feeling at the time. I've actually lost track of the amount of creative stuffs I've done so far this month (sketch, ink, marker, etc) and.... I don't remember the last time that's happened.

I'm feeling rather pumped about starting some new projects... bigger things than I've ever done before with my drawings. I hope you're feeling some fire, too. If not, don't worry too much about it. The last few years were super dim for me (for drawing stuff). Sometimes other things have to take priority.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Mirror Mirror on the wall color version

Mirror mirror on the wall... who's got the cutest butt of them all! Oh do I love that fire-y hair. This was a fun sketch to warm up my marker skills on. I'm excited to work on more marker stuff now. This was on printer paper... not good paper for markers hah but I made it work. But don't worry, I did pick up a real sketch pad that's supposed to be good for markers so I'll break that in soon.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: The Hunger Games characters compilation

Just some quick character sketches while watching The Hunger Games. Coin, Finnick, and Pollux.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: TBT - Elf girl with wings inked

Throwback to 2011! That was 7 years ago... I'll let that sink in for a minute.

I'm happy to say, I still enjoy this drawing. This was when my drawings started to feel less flat. They started to feel more fleshy, like they take up space.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Big hair, don't care girls

Always feels good to do some hair and gesture practice drawings.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Watching you indifferently color version

This drawing became an experiment in multi-media. I started with a sketch on some old card stock paper. Then I inked it. Then I colored the figure in with Copic markers. But then I did something a bit different from my usual.

I colored the background in watercolor... madness! Not really but it definitely saved me a ton of time. I just wanted a simple orange background and didn't want to waste a ton of Copic marker ink on it. I got really worried though, while I was doing it, because the water made the page super ripple-y. So I sandwiched it in a heavy book for a couple days and thankfully it smoothed out rather nicely.

The stars are bit childish maybe... but I like them. I wish I'd done more haha.

with love - M

My Best of 2017 Drawings

I took the stats from my blog to figure out what images had the most hits from 2017. These are the winners.

And look at that! All of these are from my attempt at Inktober 2017. I think that's a real testament to how important it is to set goals and projects for yourself. I really tried to not get hung up on the 'completion' aspect, needing to do all 31 drawings on the designated days, using the prompts. Instead, I focused on just putting pen to paper and not much else.

For me, my biggest hurdle right now is combating my 'imposter' thoughts. And I'm finding that what helps me be successful in that fight is allowing myself to draw what I want, when I want. I definitely think that if I had tried to force myself to stick to someone else's schedule, prompts, whatever, I would've gotten overwhelmed and burned out before I hardly got started. That style of pushing myself has never worked for me. Following what feels good has always brought me better fortunes.

So draw what you love. Fit in learning and technique training when you can.

Sketch Diary: Pearl practice

Fan art of Pearl from Steven Universe! Not my character so please go check out the show if you like it! Such a great show - no matter how old you are. I hope I did Pearl some kind of justice. I was trying to do her character in my own style. The hair was fun. I keep flip flopping about liking the pose. Something is wrong with the arms. Back one is too short and front one is angled weird.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Iterative face practice

I get stuck drawing the same kinds of faces sometimes, especially when I have so little time to draw. So I do these iterative practice pages to help get used to changing details, small and large, to change the look of a face. Check out Sycra's video - Iterative Drawing - The Fastest Way to Improve.

It's funny because I see several old styles that I used to do - different stages of drawing. The top right  was definitely a phase I had in 2004. But the middle right is definitely my current mood.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Relaxed mohawk lady

I might have not drawn anything for a month... let's not talk about that. Let's talk about how SWEET this pose is?!

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Warrior concept

This is what happens when you watch too much Viking and Ancient Rome related movies and shows. Love those braids, though.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: TBT - Armored blonde elf

An throwback oldy! Hailing all the way from 2008. Probably colored in 2009. Still struggling with drawing hands...2018 haha.

with love - M

Sketch Diary - Warm up collection

I hadn't drawn in a while and needed a page to just scribble on for a bit to get my wrist loosened up... also to get my brain loosened up. I definitely recommend doing warm ups before you sit down to draw that super cool idea you have. Get the junk out on a junk page. If that junk page ends up being super cool, great! But if not, you don't waste too much brain power just scribbling around and instead you get nice and warmed up for that super cool idea.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Inktober Day 17 - Short hair portrait practice

Working on my lineart skills. Feel free to color - but please give me credit, link back here, and tell me! Cuz I wanna see it.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Inktober Day 16 - Moana inspired

I know. Inktober is over. But I told myself I was gonna do 31 ink drawings for Inktober 2017 and if it takes me all year, then it takes me all year. I wanted to start the new year on the 'right' foot so here we go. A drawing inspired by Moana, sketched in July, inked in November.

Did you participate in Inktober 2017?

with love - M

Inktober: Some fav artists and thoughts on failure

This being the first year that I've done Inktober, I wanted to take a moment to break from my barrage of drawings and talk about some other artists also working hard at their Inktober drawings. I also want to take a moment to discuss my thoughts on failure and why it's a good thing but more on that later.

First, let's give round of snaps to all the artists out there putting out drawings for Inktober! Even if you only did one drawing this month, it still counts! There are so many wonderful artists out there! It feels great to through my lot into the mix. Now I want to talk about some of the artists that are killing it this Inktober.

Heikala @heikala_art
The artwork below is the one that got me hooked on this artist. Really reminds me of Ghibli style art because it's so transporting. It's a whole scene! Not just a character. They also do great process videos so you can see how they ink each piece! Very inspiring and helpful.

Inktober day 6, Ghost Migration☄️☄️ pic.twitter.com/iwODam5Qkr

— Heikala (@heikala_art) October 6, 2017

vickiscream @vickisigh
I just love this artist's use of colors. Each piece has that little spark of personality, very important to me.

day 15 of #inktober ! she spends time with plants to recharge her powers~ 🌵🌼🌻🌱🍃 pic.twitter.com/T9Dxos7rag

— vickiscream 🌵 (@vickisigh) October 15, 2017

Sibylline M @Sibylline_M
What's not to love! The line quality, the colors, ...those buns!

✨ Space buns ✨ pic.twitter.com/e6Y2F5KD46

— Sibylline M 🚀💫 (@Sibylline_M) October 13, 2017

And that's it for now! I'm finding new fabulous artists everyday so I might do another post like this after Inktober wraps up.

Now about what I said about failure - Last year was when I first discovered Inktober, though I did some sketches with the hopes of inking some before the end of October... it didn't happen. I was left feeling poopy about not putting up a single inked drawing even thought being a part of Inktober was clearly something I really wanted. But I guess I just wasn't ready. I suffer from some pretty lame imposter syndrome stuff.

But I've been working hard at it all year. When this October came around, I was ready this time. I had created an environment at home where my pens and sketch books were easily accessed, where I had a clear desk and lap drawing table so that I could easily grab a sketch book and get to it whenever I was able to make a moment for myself. And that first day when I inked a drawing, it was the best feeling in the world. I scanned that thing and threw it up on the internet and BAM! I was already a step ahead of where I was last year.

Listen, all I'm saying is be kind to yourselves. I see and hear so much self-deprecation about not drawing 'enough'. I've seen artists that draw constantly but barely progress an inch and I've seen others that draw here and there, spend more time observing and doing training instead of drawing their own works, and they jump light years ahead in their art skills. And neither of those paths is wrong! There's a million different ways to 'be an artist'. For me, I know I'd rather love myself and do my art for me first and foremost. I can only do what I can do in any given day. And I need to recognize that I make the art, it doesn't make me. (I'm saying it like that because yes, I STILL struggle with it).

Seeing all these other wonderful artists out there being so successful at drawing daily for Inktober can be rough. Especially if we carry ourselves with the attitude of 'I'm not doing what they're doing so I must be failing'.

Whatever you're able to do, in that moment, is enough. Even if you just sat down on the couch and stared at a blank page for 10 minutes and drew a circle. Even if you glanced longingly at your sketch book from afar. It's what you could do so it's enough. I'm a big believer that tomorrow is a new day and another chance so give yourself a hug, get some rest, and try to make time for yourself tomorrow.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Inktober Day 15 - A leeward gaze

I almost called this 'a windward gaze' but decided to check the definition and yup, I mixed them up. Since she's looking away from the wind, it's a leeward gaze. The more you know...

I'm halfway through Inktober!! It hasn't been easy but I'm happy with the outcomes so far. Gonna make it to that finish line... eventually.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Inktober Day 14 - The contemplative elf

What's she sitting on?! No one will ever know...

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Bucky feels portrait

All the feels while watching Civil War. It's supposed to be Bucky... I guess. This was not the portrait I was seeing in my head but I kept getting distracted by the movie. Usually I'll pause a movie at the spot I like so I can sketch whatever character it is but Joel was watching it with me and I felt bad. NO!! WE PAUSE NOW! for how long? FOR AS LONG AS THE DRAWING NEEDS! lolol

I also have no concept of time... so yeah it might be a while.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Inktober Day 13 - Worried look in blue

Time for my blue period! Hah but seriously, brush pens are fun. I took more time on my lines for this one and I think it paid off. I was able to get those skinny lines and some nice fat ones, too. I dig how she turned out.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Doing the up-do

I went through periods of love and hate while sketching this quicky. I did the head and arm and hair using a fast gesture drawing method but then went in for way too much detail too quickly with the eyes and had to pull myself back out again to do the rest of the pose. THEN I went back in for details.... the quick gesture drawing method really works the best for me. I don't know why I stopped in the middle of it. Whatever. I've been averaging 2 drawings/inkings a day lately so I'm still pleased as punch.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Inktober Day 12 - Harpy Queen

When I was inking this I stopped after the main outline and was like 'is that enough?'. But then I just kept going and going with the shadow areas. I was worried it was too much but I think it worked out ok.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Slender all over

I didn't realize until after finishing this little sketch that I was definitely channeling some Keane. Specifically, her slender looking women in some of her paintings. She's mostly known for her 'Big Eyes' paintings but I like her other work, too. She had a wild ride though, if the movie was at all accurate. I recommend watching it regardless because it brings up the issues of selling prints versus originals, the desire to be in an art gallery, and just all around artist struggles.

with love - M