I forgot I had this Blog...

First and foremost, apologies for the rubbish picture quality.  The page is actually too big for my scanner so I had to scan it in one half at a time.

So here I am!  Finished my first comic page.  I've made a few mistakes (especially with ink) but overall, I think it might be okay. 

I've had this story idea for a while, but I don't have a full script.  This scene was really clear in my mind though, so I just went for it.  

Some people have pointed out that there are a lot of panels on the one page, but I decided that it helped with comic timing. 

Art & Me: Relationship Status – It’s complicated

 

Hello there friends. It's been a while, hasn't it?

It's been just over two years since I joined deviantArt.com (www.gemmariemcc.deviantart.com), and I have to say, it was an amazing discovery. At the time I was still at art school, struggling through coursework that didn't seem to be appreciated by anyone- meaning, the tutors didn't like what I was producing, and I didn't like what I was expected to produce. DeviantArt, however, was the perfect escape. In comparison, it was a far more positive experience than art school. No matter what it was that I submitted, someone was bound to like it, and at a time when I really needed it, it was a real confidence boost.

Now, by saying this, please don't mistake me for someone who can't handle negative feedback - the truth is I love feedback and criticism as long as it's constructive. There's no point in saying "This work is beyond shit" unless you're going to follow it with "but this is how you can improve it to just shit". Luckily, I have had nothing but constructive criticism since joining, and I sometimes I actually felt as though as I was learning a lot more on the site than I did at college.

There was a time when I was submitting a piece nearly every day (sometimes two) and I managed to build up what I feel is a pretty decent gallery, but recently, I seem to have fallen out of love with art.

In the past year I've left art school without my degree, deciding that the course wasn't a right fit for me, and since I made that decision I've had absolutely no regrets. It was as though a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and I took that to mean I had made the right choice. The only setback is that it has destroyed my confidence in my drawing, or rather more accurately, destroyed any enjoyment I used to get from drawing.

I still doodle- but I just doodle the same thing over and over again. Faces. I just love drawing faces, and although it wasn't really encouraged at my college, I really wanted to do portraiture. I don't know why it wasn't encouraged; there just seemed to be a bit of snobbery when it was discussed- "Yeah, you could go on to do portraiture…" was what I was told, "but it's not really as respected as…" and then some kind of pretentious form of fine art would be mentioned and I would just want to go vomit somewhere. Another reason I don't miss college- I couldn't cope with the vomiting anymore. (Lol! That was just a joke- but I seriously didn't like the snobbery.)

So for the past wee while, I've been taking a break from art. I still am, I suppose, as I have no plans to produce anything in the foreseeable future… or, more accurately, finish anything in the foreseeable future. Unless inspiration crops up.

Insert Title Here

I'm trying keep up a doodle a day, which isn't as dirty as it sounds... Promise.

Anyway, I was watching the Young Victoria, which is one of my favourite films ever, and I produced this- in COLOUR!! A good likeness?

Not very exciting, I know, but I'm finding it really hard to produce anything just now. Baby steps, eh?

Happy 2013

Happy New Year!! The first day of 2013 has been a bit dull, but I have been keeping up my sketching spree-
Today I've been going with a Marvel Theme...

Looking forward to Thor 2, but I'm not so fussed about The Wolverine. Unless it promises to be far superior to X-men Origins: Wolverine, which won't be difficult at all. I had a lot of problems with that film- especially the cast. I ended up hating Gambit!!! That shouldn't be possible! Anyway, enough snide comments about Taylor Kitsch's lack of charisma... Here's some stupid doodles.

I know I've drawn Thor before, so to make up for the repeat I've also drawn Loki. Grumpy Logan, however, was just fun to do.

Last Post of 2012, First Post in Ages.

Hey guys! God, I'm sorry about my lack of posts. I suppose when I started this blog I forgot that I had to actually write something.

It's been a weird year for me- I left college sooner than I expected to, and I've realised that I have to do something with my life, because working at a checkout is not working for me anymore.

Anyway- I'm sincerely hoping that 2013 is going to be my year, so all positive thoughts would be most appreciated. And in return, please enjoy this doodle of an itchy bear. Y'know, for funsies. Lol. :D

The Healer

It's done.  I just wanted to let you know.

(and yes- that is Matthew Crawley from Downton Abbey)

Procastination is a bitch...

Um... in my last post I implied that I was going to finish those portraits no problem....

I may have got ahead of myself.

I'm stuck again, but I'm trying to be productive while I work through the problem.  Y'know, procrastinate?  Anyway, I drew this, because i love Adventure time, and it makes me happy.

Actual Work! Fo' Reals!

I've kind of noticed that there aren't that many examples of my work on here... Well, here we go; here's a little project I've been working on, purely for myself:

I have this idea for a story (well, a few, actually) but i find writing really difficult, and while I've written a shed load of notes, I can't seem to make them into anything readable. So, instead of not doing anything, I decided to stick to my strengths.

This is a collection of portraits I've made based on the characters in my story.  

These first three were done back in April, each one taking about two days...

I'm a fan of the kind of montage compositions made famous by Drew Struzan and his Star War/ Indiana Jones movie posters, and I think that might show through in these... BUT I have a really bad habit of leaving a lot of things unfinished, and this was no different.  When I started, I knew there were going to be at least six pieces, but I gave up after three.

For some reason, it was really bugging me that I hadn't finished them, until finally, yesterday I finished the fourth portrait:

 So there is hope!  I can finish this! And right now I'm working on the fifth....

 SNEAK PREVIEW

I realize they're far from perfect... but I like to think that I'm improving as I go. 

And I'm currently working on...

Yeah... so I'm sick of the colour purple now.

A ridiculous study in purple.

Can't imagine why...


Anyway, I've been working a lot lately, and by the time I get home I'm just dead.  I've been living in my jamas this past wee while, but I've just had two days off!  In a row! Whaaaaaaat?


So I actually managed to sit down at my desk and produce some work!  I suffered some creative block at first but when I just started doodling on my wacom I made this:

Um... No

Okay, it's not amazing but I'm proud that it was spontaneous.  Not quite sure what he's refusing, but I have some ideas... and that might be another piece.  


And then, of course, there's my study in purple up top (Work in Progress).  Again, that came out of nowhere, but now that i'm working more into it, I'm getting a bit obsessed with it.  Unfortunately, I'm back to work tomorrow, so I should really go to my bed now.  Hopefully the obsession will still be there tomorrow.

My New Favourite Thing!

I know I'm waaaay behind, but I've just discovered "Adventure Time", and I don't know how I've managed to go so long without it.  I'm only in the first season, but already my favourite character is Lumpy Space Princess, or LSP.  


If you've never seen it before, here are some of the best quotes!

I'm pretty sure as I watch more episodes, I'll just love her more. 

She's already tied with Roger from American Dad and Bender from Futurama as my all-time Favourite Cartoon Character!  

Thor

Finished, though I'm not overly impressed with it.  I think it has something to do with my colouring.  I suck at colouring.  Never mind, I'll get better with time I'm sure.

Avengers ASSEMBLE!

Yes, I went to see the Avengers the other day, and I bloody LOVED it!  I don't know why, but i was really scared incase it was going to take itself super seriously, so I was pleasantly surprised when there were some genuinely funny parts in it!  


I remember when I went to see Spider-man 2 in the cinema. During that fight scene between Spidey and Doc- Ock on the train, there's a bit where his spidey-sense kicks in and sees the end of the track, and the brakes aren't working and there all going to die and it just goes silent for a moment... I remember someone in the cinema breaking that silence with "Oh shiiiiiiiiiit."  Well, the Avengers had a few moments like that... so that either means its a good film, or I should just stop going to a noisy cinema.


Anyway, yes, I loved it!  And so when I came home I wanted to draw something, but I've been working a lot lately, so I haven't been able to finish it...

Thor is definitely my favourite movie in the lead up to the Avengers, and, I have to admit, his hair is rather glorious.  Although I usually do get upset when I see boys with hair more beautiful than mine.  I'm hoping to finish this as soon as I can... but until then please enjoy, and maybe come back when its finished?

Gem.

So THIS is my deal...

Right, so for the past three years, I've been (unsuccessfully) attempting a BA in Fine Art.  I scraped through first year, failed second year, repeated it, then failed again.  Don't worry- this story's not a complete downer, because even though I technically failed- as in, that would be the official term used- I don't see it as a failure.  It was a course a embarked on for all the wrong reasons. 
a) Geographical convenience:  I had no money to move away from home, and this course was local.
b) I knew I could get on it:  I had previously been at the college for a Portfolio course, which I loved, and that made it easier to get accepted.
c) I thought art was anything you perceived it to be... and THAT was the cause of my downfall.


Watch out, because its about to get rant-y.


The thing about art is that it IS subjective, and what I considered to be beautiful pieces, the tutors did not.  And this is where it began to go wrong.  I started my first year thinking that I could take any project we were given, and twist it into something that suited my abilities.  I can draw, but it didn't seem to be enough.  It was as though they wanted a big, deep philosophy behind the work, and that just isn't me.  I like things to be fairly straightforward, which, fair enough, may not be the attitude to have- but when I see a piece of art (or what I consider to be art) I love to be blown away by the skill it's taken to complete such a piece!  Not what philosophy it represents.  

Above:  Just one example of what I consider to be mind-blowing skill, found on deviantART

Above: "Work No. 79, Some Blu-Tack kneaded, rolled into a ball, and depressed against a wall, 1993, Blu-Tack, Approximately 1 in / 2.5 cm diameter" by Martin Creed

Just one example of what the teachers find mind blowing, and what makes me want to punch someone in the throat.

Of course, I'd be lying if I said this was the only reason I failed.  I also have a real problem with writing essays.  I get in such a blind panic and can't write them.  Plus, there weren't any relevant topics I found interesting enough to write more than a page about.  I guess that's why I've started this blog- to improve, but on my own terms.  No pressure, no deadlines...  Is that a terrible idea?  Meh, I doubt many English teachers will be reading this anyhoo.  


Anyway, as I said before, I don't see all this as a failure, I see it as a lesson.  It just means I'm one step closer to discovering what I'm going to do with the rest of my life (although, i guess if you're a pessimist, it's a step further away, but I'm not and I don't need your negativity, guys!).  So while I'm working extra hours at my job, and saving up money to eventually leave and do something worthwhile, I'll be using my spare time to try a bit of everything I want to do, and I will be posting the results up on here.  If you're interested.


In the meantime, here is a link to my deviantART, just to show what I am capable of, and to prove i wasn't kicked out college for drawing stick men. 

www.gemmariemcc.deviantart.com

Have a good day, wherever you are and whatever you're doing!

Gem. :D