|
$$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
|
Welcome back, I am so happy you are here. If you missed last week’s newsletter, fear not! You can read every previous edition on my website.
|
Table of ContentsLet’s Draw! - The Marshmallow Dragon | Illustration Wings | Poetry What a Wonderful World! | Comic Bi-Weekly Recommendations | Closing Thoughts
|
Let’s Draw!The Marshmallow Dragon Ah, here we are once again! Gathered to examine a piece of artwork that haunts me, and is in desperate need of love and attention. Today, I want to rework a sketch from 2022, one that I think has a lot of heart, but is lacking in detail, execution, and visual depth. I’ve made the allusion of revisiting old artwork to opening high school journals before, so let us once again crack open the illustration history book, and hold the feelings of discomfort and compassion aloft. Here is the original drawing from 2022:
|
|
There are a number of things that jump out at me when I look at this piece, and not all of them are bad! I like the composition, I like the dragon, I like the offset between the green and red that allows each character to pop, and I think the action captures the warmth I was hoping for. Now that it’s been 3-4 years, I can’t help but notice where I missed the mark, and each of these findings will be concrete goals as we re-approach the artwork. The setting is very basic, and both the background and the characters lack depth. A lot of the texture is very hastily thrown in and feels a bit distracting. Some elements like the fireflies don’t match the color palette, the light doesn’t seem too dynamic, and most importantly, the young girl just feels a bit disproportionate and rigid. The good news is, we now have everything we want to address, so let’s start by removing each of the elements that fall short.
|
|
A clean slate! Now let’s add a bit of depth, and re-plant those trees. |
|
|
A rolling forest floor gives us a sense of distance, and feels a bit better than a flat line. Let’s throw a bit of texture on the trees and add some branches too! Let’s also remove the original bounce light so we can rework the effects later on. |
|
|
|
|
Now that we’ve established a bit of detail, let’s take it a step further with grass and a bit of fog between our layers. |
|
|
|
This felt like a pretty pivotal step, enclosing that forest, and giving the setting a real identity! Let’s begin to work on our other main character!
|
|
Here we blocked out basic shapes, with a big focus on relaxing the pose, getting the proportions right, and also fixing the hand position. Time for detail! |
|
|
I really tried to emphasize specific original elements of our character, like her iconic puffy spotted jacket, her pigtails, and her calm demeanor. Let’s add in some shadow and highlights to really give each character some more energy. |
|
|
|
|
Such an important step! I think this really brought each of our subjects to life, and gives our light source a dynamic feel too. To finish, let’s reintroduce our fireflies, throw some bounce light on the trees, and add in any final details. |
|
|
|
And there we have it. I couldn’t be happier with how this one turned out. I feel like the process of reworking the illustration really brought it to life, without losing the essence of what made it special. What do you think of the final result?
|
Wings~ Would life be so easy, If I were a bird, Soaring over lands, And seas far from heard? Could weight fall away, Like dusk from the sky, And time be forgotten, Without need to ask why? For no doors would confine me, No roads could decide, What weight I need carry, Or face I need hide. Should the wind offer rhythm, And beauty, and grace, I would be thankful for it, And befit every space. I would sketch my name boldly, On the back of the breeze, Write soft, fleeting poems, In the language of trees. And the mountains would greet me, With arms made of air, Every valley I passed, Would steal thoughts of despair. I would borrow the sunrise, And wear gold on my wings, Trade all of my worry, For simpler things. But storms would still find me, Dull my beak in the rain, And hunger would follow, Like an echo of pain. For even in freedom, The wild has cost, A sky without borders, Is a sky to be lost. And flight is a question, As much as escape, A freedom that shifts, Into some other shape. So maybe it’s not, The wings that I need, But a lightness of heart, And less want to be freed. ~
|
What a Wonderful World! - 4/29/2026Scroll down to see full comic!
|
|
Fun fact: I’m a big fan of 1970-1980’s Japanese city pop! The floating lyrics on the last panel are taken directly from the 1982 song “Fantasy” by Meiko Nakahara, as is the art on the album cover Chase is holding! I’ve included links to a few great songs, including this one, in this week’s recommendations so you can experience the same thing as Leon and Chase!
|
Bi-Weekly RecommendationsGo listen to some Japanese city pop! You don’t need to understand the language to enjoy it, and that is how you know it’s good. Expect 80’s vibes, with baselines, horns, and vibes cranked up to 11. If you need somewhere to start, my favorite artist is Anri, who you can find on Spotify. A few city pop songs to check out: “Fantasy” by Meiko Nakahara: LINK “I Can’t Stop the Loneliness” by Anri: LINK “Stay With Me” by Miki Matsubara: LINK “Windy Summer” by Anri: LINK
|
Support My Work!If you enjoy what I do, please consider a donation! Not only does it support the time and effort I put into my work, but it also allows me to create more. Anything is greatly appreciated!
|
|
Thank you for being here.
|
|
Not subscribed yet? Never miss a future newsletter!
|
|
|
|
