So Much Is Happening...

Looks like my furry K-pop art will be merging with my Pride Month art. Too much has happened this month and I couldn't keep up my own prompts. This is why I also stopped doing official art prompts.

IG Is A Mess

When I created my DeviantArt page, it was to serve as an online portfolio to my work and scope of creative vision. It took me years of deliberation since I knew several years ago, the platform for global artists was experiencing some ugliness in terms of bullying and other social ills. 

Well, dA finally came under new management, new guidelines, and bylaws. An overhaul of the site was made, and when a young family friend and a friend from grad school were both encouraging me to use DeviantArt, I felt now was the time. 

I opened the Instagram account firstly to give my mother's paintings a platform and because, at the time, she was actively trying to sell her art. She even had art openings in our home prior to COVID. My mom was never patient with most social media, her only accepted and tolerated one being WhatsApp. Soon, she convinced me to delete her Insta account. She just didn't want to deal with anything else online. So I looked over Instagram and realized I needed something far more mutable to DeviantArt's steadfastness. 

Also known as IG, I think I unfortunately got into Instagram when it was already bought out by Facebook, and I can already see the ill effects with that takeover. However, I needed to overlook these since my main objective was to use IG's slideshow feature to make one of my comic stories a visual reality. I also created my own art-progression videos (I may go back to those, but the platform doesn't inspire too much trust).

Insta is now making it more difficult to post images vertically because of their feature-cropping. My own cellphones  now have excellent filters and a crop-feature known as Scan. lso do a new feature known as 'Extract Text' I now use for my captions and Alt Text. IG tried to force its users to make their version of TikTok videos. But for months, I kept using my own videos that I then uploaded. After a while, Insta migrated all self-made videos to their Reels section, and in the meantime, they were cropping uploaded images poorly. 

I figured out on the occasion I did my comic pages vertically that the Instagram platform cropped it so badly I would have to take the photo with the page's background. But when it's horizontal, the cropping isn't so much. However, I'm not being paranoid as other creatives such as the cartoonists and artists I follow on IG complained about the same thing. Even friends who tried to promote their books were going through the same. Now IG seems to be forcing us into some other feature. It's making me want to use the Share feature to also migrate to a previous social media platform, Tumblr. 

We shall wait and see.

Tattoo Tweet Expanded

Originally on Twitter [Expanded for blog purposes]:

Not an expert, but as an artist who's done pro work and in this writing game for 20+ years, if your OCs/characters have tattoos (personal, cultural, or group/gang/syndicate), for the Love of G*d, change them up! They're IPs, many are culturally-unique, and a number are attached to investigated groups.(End)

The reason I say this is, I don't see much creative information about portraying tattoos and other skin art in prose or in illustrative or sequential artwork. What I have learned is, though I bear no tats myself, nor will I ever (personal, spiritual, and health reasons, and fear-of-needles phobia), I appreciate, respect, and enjoy tattoos on others because this form of art is so unique and personal to those who wear them. First and foremost, commercial tattoos whether done by a pro or an amateur, are IPs or Intellectual property. They can be considered copyright ©️ as the tattoo artist/practitioner is creating it. Someone else's skin is simply their paper or canvas.

For cultural purposes, it becomes even more mired. When a tattoo is from a particular culture, there is a lot of significance placed on certain images and symbolism only known within the group/community. It's why when outsiders get tattoos like this, they not only mess up the meaning, but they offend the culture and are shamed for it. Also, in several global indigenous cultures around the world, tattoo artists aren't only seen as a profession, but as a spiritual calling. Which is why skin artists and skin art is prayed and meditated over before they start. There are even rituals tied into these procedures long before the ink even touches the recipient's skin!

Now we come to the last part... Which should terrify most of us. Prison and secret society/gang/synidicate/organized crime tattoos. I can't stress enough that as an artist and writer to carefully consider making up one's own tattoos in these cases as well. I mean, a lot of these tats are marked identifiers to police and the FBI/CIA and other bodies of global law enforcement. It's simply not worth it. 

Another "Linkage" illustration

Linkage has been a nebulous original character. They started out as a cisgender boy, and when I revived the character a few years back, I thought they were a trans teen. Imagine my surprise and delight when I decided to make Linkage nonbinary and suddenly, the character became this cheeky little [insert your expletive of choice here] and so much more interesting a personality than my first draft ideas.

Linkage is descended from South Asian
peoples of Old Earth, specifically from several Indonesian ethnic groups. I wanted to showcase Linkage finding out their old earth roots with some headdresses and emblems from different Indonesian cultural groups in yellows, oranges, and reds while showcasing their hacking profession via digital text and Linkage's virtual headphones(they can activate these psychically) are in blues.

My mom told me how she appreciates the fabrics on my characters and that they look like the fabric they're emulating(she sews and makes clothing). 

All I can think about was that time in high school art class when one of the fashion design folks left her seat from the front to walk around and view other classmate's work and she became angered by how dare I, the 'cartoon/comic artist', draw such an incredible dress on one of my characters(who was an anthro cat, no less!). 

The character's accessories and outfits should also reflect their cultural background and sense of modernity in the far future, yet not look bland as scifi clothing tends to. I mean, clothing in fantasy often looks interesting and culturally significant, so why can't science fiction clothes too?

I also love SF book covers which tend to highlight other aspects of the character's life or several characters' lives in the story. 

Here, Linkage has a pet from another world they once visited. I deliberately create my aliens, but sometimes, an alien, or its species, turns up on the fly. When that happens, lI'll use that first sketch as a template to further expand. 

So I will be expanding on this cockatrice-type creature later on!

Hope you liked this post about me explaining my process! You can see the entire slide show from start to finish on my Insta @ Handdrawnbycarmenjr

Until next time, Dear Readers!

Just my two-cents about comic artwork

One dilemma that another comic geek can understand is being attracted to a gorgeous front cover, only to(unfortunate) buy and open to #artwork that is so aesthetically displeasing to you and the opposite wrong of the cover...😧😨😰 Worse is when both are by the same creator.😖😣😞

Then there's the artwork that is so awkward and messy. Not gritty. Messy. A hot mess that would get so many art majors in trouble. But it flows with its text. Its images charm you. And soon, no matter this creator's shortcomings, you want whatever story they're telling or adapting.

I wish my readers a belated NEW YEAR'S

A disturbing start to the New Year, which I can't add the appellation 'Happy' this time. 

I DO want to say that I've gotten the ball rolling on purchasing art supplies every few weeks. 

I may be starting the next chapter in my life just as I'm doing with my stories and artwork. 

2020 was a godforsaken and awful year but it brought a lot of lessons with tears and now I'm ready to apply what was learned.

Let us explore 2021 together!

Musings from a journal entry - 11/3/18

[Originally from 11/3/18]

I've never felt comfortable with my technical skills. I envied those book cover artists I grew up admiring. Landscapes, urbanscapes, ruralscapes, I wanted to draw them but think I lacked skill.

I've since used Inktober to do my own Vintage and Art Deco pieces. Studying the whimsical, fluffy, and effervescent backgrounds and settings in illustrated children's books all the way to the highly technical and detailed in many Japanese manga. I bumped up my Watercolor skills last Inktober and this year, I needed interiors and backgrounds. 

I also drew most of my scifi characters from memory. I did five backgrounds - 3 dorm room interiors, and two urbanscape. If I can consistently draw several longstanding characters from memory. If I can do better backgrounds, I could greatly expand and make myself more commercially viable.

Increase the odds of more illustrations published or showcased. With a new medium such as designer markers, it seems I can do just that. And if I use graph-- dot grid journal paper, I feel more comfortable doing buildings and structures. I can do a blend of technical with fine art since I favor impressionistic paintings over photo/hyperrealism.

I Finished INKTOBER 2019

The last day for Inktober was yesterday, Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, or Samhain... And I feel--incredibly sad. 

I'm not sure why, but since I started to participate with Inktober 2016, this was my first year following the prompts. One year, I just drew what I wanted. 

Another year, I practiced urban and interior settings by doing progressions: one day for pencils, the next day, inks, and the third day of the piece would be coloring. 

But now, with the final being a totally cartoonish piece and the last day, I think I grow more as an artist every Inktober. 

This year is particularly poignant because I'm working on outlines and clear goals for where I want to take my writings and my art. From sibling's suggestions, to parent's encouragement, as well as a random stranger on Twitter, I beginning to get a sense of what I want to present to the world as well as how to market it. 

I have had better luck with my writings and how that may go but I have often struggled with my artwork, which has actually been longer with me than the writing. 

Perhaps I'm so close to it that I felt I couldn't release it. And perhaps that's the reason I'm feeling bittersweet... It's time. I finally know what I must do. 

NOTE: As with everything, I will update on website, blogs, and other social media platforms I'm on. And, as always, take care Dear Readers.

More Random Thoughts from Journal Land

Camp NaNoWriMo started but this week took a bit much out of me, plus, I plunked down some hefty funds to get my eyes tested for new prescription frames! I was given a 40% discount but I'm poor until my next paycheck.

More news! Tabber the Red site will have a new look this July! In time for its birthday! So, working on some new Tabber stories set in world while also giving the official website a new face! Ay...

More random notes from the journals - this time, I need to do things on smaller paper or I feel I can't finish it! (Psychologically the same as getting the same amount of food put in a smaller bowl or on a smaller plate)

11x14 paper will be used as drafting/composition ideas!

9x12 will be for larger pieces such as character sheets, profiles, and storyboards.

Finally, 7x10 will be my magic number when it comes to final comic/graphic novel/manga artwork, which can be better scanned and formatted for digital submission.

May God help me with the next coming months. It's gonna be a doozy!

Nothing Is New But It Is All Unique

Sick and tired of hearing from fellow creatives that they must avoid creative media in order not to be influenced. We are ALL influenced by *something*.

Vincent Van Gogh collected over 400 Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e) and even copied some of its elements into his work.

Art can't happen in a vacuum. It's just not possible. Even those not formally art-trained and may live in the most isolated insular and homogenous community will still create art that shows influence from many elements. 

Take for instance the profound artwork of an incredibly talented individual I saw on a Facebook art group page: his work reminded me of early protest art of 70s vinyl record covers. I pointed this out and he said explained he lived out in the bayous, hadn't gone to art school, and never received any formal training, but he immediately got what I meant of what his work reminded me.

Something inspired him. *Influenced* him to create the way he did and how he did. Though he was in a sense of the modern idea that he was isolated, he was still influenced and inspired by what was around him. By his environment, his experiences, his life. And it became something that reminded me, a total stranger, of something else entirely. Yet, he GOT what I meant.

I'm not saying we are being hacks. What I'm saying is it's okay to acknowledge and not feel ashamed to own up to one's influences. And even if one doesn't know what the influences are, do know that they are still there.

Whenever I create something: whether an illustration, a scribble, a cartoon, comic strip, short story, word list, essay, or this blog post, I like to play a game to try and recognize what inspired me or influenced that particular piece. I'm not saying to do this. I'm just weird.

It is essential to know that while there's "nothing new under the sun", what makes an art 'original' is how it's filtered and distilled by its bearer, its creator. Because we are all different, because each one of us is unique, and because we are all affected by outside and inner forces, the art will be singular, authentic, and genuine.

Going back to basics

Buying paper and sketchbooks as an artist is more complicated. After using last of birthday money at my local art store that I need to return the 9 ×12.

Saw a 7 × 10 stack next to that and realized I should've bought two of those instead of purchasing a new 9 × 12. Want to down-scale.
Have been creating a lot of art on this paper but I remember for many years creating on standard 8.5 × 12. So using a 7 × 10 isn't a stretch.

This particular sketchbook paper isn't just any paper. This is Canson, a paper company established in 1557! I've been using their paper for years (Not as long as they've been in existence. Haha) and this sketchbook is for mixed media, 98 lbs, and acid-free.
It brings out vibrant color on designer markers and especially watercolor, which I am now using with my beloved color pencils.

I remember creating a lot of my early works on regular 8.5 x 12 and so I'm returning to those days.

The new skills will bring new creativity and it also has technical practicality. It's easier to scan on my 3-in-1 copier machine or on my mom's copier via wi-fi.

This will make life easier to take pictures and upload to my social media and scan/upload to my online art portfolio account.