Thanks to Rivkah and Sam for posting their words of encouragement. Getting out isn't the problem with me since I do. A little too much lately to be honest. I think it's been more of the "why"s and the worth of actually slaving over something that's been fuckin' me up. There IS the personal satisfaction end of things, of course, but there is also the peer acceptance or appreciation aspect of it that matters even more sometimes.
I'm convinced art is done for another and to communicate something to that other instead of just doing it and sticking it in a cave for no one to digest. What would the point of that be? Ever since doing comics as a fulltime gig, I've been concentrating on ever improving and never being satisfied. I think it's a good thing since you never rest on your laurels and keep pushing forth for something new and better. The flip side to that is there's plenty of doubt that tends to follow. Am I actually getting better or worse? Am I going in the right direction or what? Am I really gonna reach that ultimate goal?
Dude... I should just go back to how I saw things in art school. See everything as a process. Yeah, I think I will.
Above pic is from the upcoming BFX week. It's gonna be sweet.
TAK
posted by TAK at 5:27 PM
3 Comment(s):
Hey Tak,
It's Alex! Just reading your blog and I had to respond. I agree that it's important to concentrate on improving and never be satisfied with your work. I find myself doing that quite a lot but as a result, I find that I'm always second guessing myself...and that, for me, tends to be a huge roadblock, not a speedbump. I ask myself: Am I talented enough to get into this business? Do I even have any talent? Can I actually make it in this business? I think I let my fear of failure get the best of me...even in light of the positive response from Chicago. I've been wrestling with this for a while now and it hasn't been easy...especially with Toby (aka Alex Jr.) coming in around three weeks (!!). But I'll say this much...having your peers around you to encourage and motivate you makes all the difference. I'm currently right in the middle of my samples (still!!) and I'm hoping to get it done soon...here's the first page:
http://www.comicart1st.com/WIP/MrFreeze01c.jpg
...lemme know what you think. I'll send over the layouts for the rest of the pages soon.
Keep up the awesome work, bro...I'll give you a shout this week.
Al
Yanno, I had no problem working 19 hour days 7 days a week for a year an a half until one day I realized that if I kept doing that, I was going to look back on my 20s and wonder where it went.
Since then I've re-evaluated a lot of things about work. I only continue to work on comics that I really like, I try to improve coloring wise, while not nit picking too much, understanding that I have to let go and move on to the next page, and make it better...
Basically, what I've realized is that in order for me to care about work, I really really have to be able to let it go.
Aleeeeeex, soon to be a dad, huh???? Congrats, man. We'll have drinks when I'm back home in December, yo!
Your pic looks great, man. I little stiff but I like the amount of detail you get in there. Damn. I don't have the patience for that much crosshatching! Is this part of an official pitch to DC?
yeah, we're our own worst critic afterall. Can't be all down on yourself all the time. I suppose it's in our nature to remember the bad more than the good. I remind myself of that sometimes and it makes me feel good. lol.
Anyway, yeah, gimme a ring anytime, man.
C, I feel the same way. Focusing on work is cool and everything but gotta take time and enjoy youth, y'know? Another thing is, I keep thinking, am I gonna be doing this when I hit 35? 40?? 50??? It's nuts. Can't imagine drawing teens when I'm an old fart. lol.
But you're right. Gotta let go if you wanna keep moving forward. I've felt that about pretty much every other aspect of my life except for comics. It's wierd.