Honestly, I was surprised to fill out most of the months with decent illustrations. I didn't think I had the time to draw, but looks like I made it happen after all. I'm pleased with how colorful and diverse each are. Consistency? What's that! Most likely due to the fact I would go weeks without touching my tablet, and the only way to reboot the drawing mood was doing something I really wasn't used to. Out of the norm stuff really got me going.
Anyway, what stuff did I say I wanted to accomplish this year?
Backgrounds?
I certainly did more backgrounds this year, especially for that visual novel I made back in May. I fully understand now all the work that goes into visual novels and man... i should just hire a dedicated background artist HAHAHA. But it was lots of fun and tested my skills and pushed my limits big time. I learned a lot and want to continue pursuing better backgrounds.
Dynamic poses?
Heck yeah!! Although I'm sure 90% of my drawings are bust ups and headshots- I think I did well in making some new poses. I still struggle with planning them however and I know I just draw whatever feels good. With what I made this year though, I think I did well in trying to break the mold. Especially hands!!! DYNAMIC HANDS.
Go crazy?
YES! I said draw whatever I wanted AND DID. Another reason why the styles are all over the place. Just did whatever I felt like doing and it didn't matter what people thought. Try painting even though I never did proper painting in my life- SURE! Did some whacky cartoony style inspired by some music artists I've been recently listening to- OH YEAH! TRY DOING REALISM- oh dear. But I tried and learned!
Things I plan to do next year!
Once again, backgrounds. I don't think backgrounds will ever leave my list. I think I should try tackling backgrounds with no characters or anything present. Do lots of studies of any pictures I have.
Characters in the moment.
I think this also falls under dynamic poses, but there was an artist I saw who's illustrations had characters doing their thing without posing for that camera angle. It was refreshing, and I want to be able to do that because....
MAKE A ONE SHOT COMIC?
I NEED THE SKILLS PRIOR TO MAKE AN ACTUAL DECENT COMIC. Of course I could do one now (and I'm heavily thinking of doing one during this break) but that's still up in the air. Regardless, making a comic and seeing it through the end is something I've been aiming to do for a while. Despite my skills not being anywhere near where I want it to be making one, I know I just have to make it!! I can always redo it later!!!! The only factor stopping me is time.
Work on animation!
I bought the EX version for CLIP and I'm not letting it go to waste. I'm having loads of fun making animated splash screens for my stream, but I know they're still very unpolished. I need to practice!!!!
As a nursing student, my time has been spent studying, schooling, bare minimum human living, and repeat. Most of the time I shouldn't be drawing and have felt guilty even giving myself the time to draw but that's messed up yo!!!!! So with great eagerness to graduate this coming May, I'm excited to be free from the confines of schooling and actually get a job and draw whenever I want.
Finally being on Christmas break has been a huge relief and I'm ecstatic to be able to draw and play games again.