Challenge yourself

“Keep hope alive” is such an appropriate song title for the vibe of this progress timelapse. lol

Many artists won’t show their incompetence, or their indecision, or their struggle.

That’s not me though.

Not many of us are Kim Jung Gi. It’s not effortless, especially when you’re challenging yourself outside your comfort zone. Which, IMO, you should be doing as often as possible.

This posing was challenging for multiple reasons, not the least of which was being creatively drained as this was the 7th cover I had worked on in 5-6 weeks.

The cape and uhhh… kilt? Dress? Skirt? lol… The skirt covering Thragg’s legs and his cape were giving me problems because I wanted it to be expressive but not ridiculous. I wanted him to look powerful but I also didn’t want to obscure the view of Battle Beast behind him.

The arms folded looked pretty cool, but it just seemed a bit… I don’t know…

Pouty?

These are the kind of thoughts that can infect a piece, but more often than not they seem to do so for good reason.

The final posing, which for previously stated reasons of creative exhaustion didn’t get recorded, ended with one hand behind his back with his left open and extended. He was INVITING confrontation. He was unthreatened by it.

It was very “Morpheus” from Matrix, and I’m super satisfied with the end result.

Capes are a whole other thing. They tend to fall in the same frustration as mechs and robots for me. I can get TOO caught up in trying to make them realistic and lose the fantasy-fun aspect that can be applied in these graphic mediums.

Anyway… don’t let the frustrations stop your progress. Overcoming them will always reap bountiful rewards.

My Invincible Returns cover is available now… just comment “Overcome”

…and also, I wouldn’t be mad at you if you embodied that for yourself today. 🫡