Concept Proof

 

I did this drawing for an idea I had and rediscovered it just recently when trying to decide on an idea to make an original animatic out of. I haven't stopped again, I've just been busy working on this. I drew this before I was confident in my ability to draw any other style besides Gravity Falls or stick figures, so the drawing styles of both my animatics will look similar. I'll save going to a new art style for the next animatic. I'm excited, this will be my first original animatic. I'm only thankful God reminded me of this concept art.

As you may have guessed, it's called Tachy's Time Pizza. In the future where everyone can 3D print their own food, how does a consumer pizza business stay ahead? With time travel. Incidentally, that's why this character's suit and hat look weird, because they're made of future material (which gives me the ability to draw his eyebrows where an opaque visor would conceal them). Unfortunately you can't see his earpiece very well in this drawing, but that will be better in the animatic.

Comic on Everyday Christian Thinking

Often things are much funnier in retrospect. I'm still not sure whether the writing on this one communicates the right ideas, or if those ideas are even ridiculous enough to bother drawing. At least I nailed drawing that tuft of hair that sticks out on my head.

When I drew this comic, I was in a time where I really only thought about Christian themes and ideas when my choice didn't matter all that much. So instead of thinking Christian thoughts when deciding whether to, for example, be nice to my sister, I thought about what flavor of yogurt to take from the fridge or not. Whether to take the yogurt I randomly drew and be satisfied or to put it back and take out a different one. The character specifically struggles with whether to accept his random yogurt as a gift from God and deny his own desires or to go ahead and give in. The thoughts are serious and good, the subject is ridiculous. God's will be done.

Written Out:
Panel 1: Hm. I pulled out another blueberry. I kinda wanted strawberry right now.
Panel 2: In C.S. Lewis' Perelandra the Eve figure cannot comprehend stored food because she always takes whatever God gives her- which would otherwise seem like chance.
Panel 3: Self-denial too is a pretty big need for developing Christians.
Panel 4: I wish I thought like this about any other topic.

Ideal Election

After a severe animation depression, of course it would be these two shows that God used to motivate me out of depression (with me kicking and screaming). The two election candidates in this image, for those who don't know, are Mabel Pines from the brilliant show Gravity Falls and Ferb Fletcher from another brilliant show Phineas and Ferb.

I drew this sketch while I was thinking about the current election campaigns. As the title says, this is my ideal election. You can't lose! On the other hand, this election might be as hard to decide for some people as the current one. This picture isn't my best drawing of Mabel as an adult, but I've done plenty better ones I hope to share soon. I also need to work on my perspective.

The story behind the art: I think Mabel here would be one of Ferb's only debate opponents who didn't give in to his views and encourage everyone to vote for him. She would- however- ask him after the debate if he had any plans for dinner. He would respectfully tell her he was in a committed relationship, but thanks anyway. As you can see the political parties of our country have changed their symbols somewhat. They're each the pet of the candidates shown: Waddles and Perry the Platypus respectively.

Thank you God for getting me out of my distress. I mean it.

Hand Drawn

Many artists realize the ease with which they can sketch their own hand. I discovered it during artist's block, as illustrated. It's sometimes really difficult to find the time and interest to draw every single day. The important thing is to make a habit of it and don't break it. God's grace is the only way I maintain habits no matter what. I sketch lightly, so sometimes I redraw parts of my sketches to get the computer to see them better. Ironically it's my signature in this sketch that needs to be redrawn. 

Sketch Book 16

As the title implies, this is actually page 16 in my sketch book. It's a lot of miscellaneous sketches. There's a character directly drawn from the wonderful PIXAR short "Day & Night," as well as another character drawn in the same style, some experimental stick figures I often use to determine the energy of a pose, circles for practice, rough drawings of two faces from a series of "Principles of Animation" YouTube videos which are certainly not my own (and are extremely helpful), and a rough sketch of the AXIOM from WALL-E. The Axiom looks like I drew it from memory, but I am not sure.

If I had a choice, I wouldn't live in any other time period. The wealth of free, open ideas in today's world which God permits is (while sometimes flawed) beautiful and amazing. What better time to pursue this media?

Crazy Idea

As many crazy ideas as I've had (who hasn't?), whenever I've approached this particular idea it has always had this title. It's about the internet becoming sentient and developing a crush on some poor, unsuspecting girl who's made the internet almost her whole life. You can see her reaction. It'd be a good wake-up call for her in the end. I think we'd all agree that if the internet ever did achieve sentience, it would be crazy bonkers insane. And this girl, in this case, can see her part in it. It knows a little more about her than she'd like to think, and she can't get away from it. I drew "Net" many different times to understand the different facial expressions he would need. Oddly enough, this idea wasn't based on anyone I know. God just gave it to me suddenly.

Feeling Pixar

One of my favorite characters ever is Joy from PIXAR's Inside Out. So at one point I copied some of the simple concept art of Joy (and Sadness of course) mostly by Pete Docter. Every artist uses references of some kind (be they material or mental), and every artist can benefit from the work of other artists. Art styles like this are, I think, becoming a big part of my own developing art style. I know I'll be able to work with a computer really well at some point, but pencil and paper will probably always be where I'm at my best.

God is good- all the time.

More Characters

These are more drawings from my sketch book. The two characters on the bottom I just thought of while I was trying to go to sleep. The top character is actually a reinterpretation of my house's smoke detector. It made a face to me. You can't see the picture bottom right character as well as the real thing, but it's still worth sharing.

I usually only get character images like this (and better ones I can't draw) before I go to sleep. I'm pretty sure the Devil tries to let me have these images to try to get me to procrastinate before bed. Thank the Lord that God gives me the strength to both fall asleep and remember these images in the morning. It's a pretty great existence for me. Thank you, God!

Train of Thought

Another comic! My mental response to any time anyone around me complains about walking into a spider-web (including myself). I really wrote it for the final panel, but I like the expressions and characters anyway. I know it's good, but I like to think it could be better. Humor, like almost everything else, needs to be practiced. It's good that it's not lost to everyone who's not born with it, and it's good to earn things. So I can't very well be sad I still need to work on it. Oh, well. If God wouldn't have it any other way then it should be more than good enough for me. Anyway here's the script for the above comic:

Panel 1: Oh no! Another spiderweb!
Panel 2: Why can't they build these things somewhere we won't walk into them?
Panel 3: I'm sure they would if they knew how, just think how it must feel to have your home stomped through.
Panel 5: Confound it- I stepped in another human house.