Homework: Cheating
Day 4 or 5, who knows?
So, I will admit that I cheated. Perfectionism is an ugly companion. It doesn’t want me to begin, let alone follow through. My disdain for drawing this comic with a busted version of my favorite ink pen was full center. It had recently been smashed by my over-zealous 9 year old, who I share my art supplies with. I almost didn’t do the drawing, because there will always be an excuse why not to. But I pressed on!
First I drew the concept of my 2nd comic in ink without looking—straight from my very own clouded mind. This process might be the hardest thing for me to do. I have to hold myself back from wonder-killing things, and just let things be messy. But that’s the point, right? That’s the homework. So I considered it a draft.
Here it is in all its messy glory:
When the idea was fully realized in draft form, I promptly threw out the rules and looked up the profile view of a rat’s face. Then the front view of an old-timey nyc taxi. 🚖 Then I began to sketch it in pencil, which is my usual process before inking. Much more comfortable!
I began to hum and whistle while I worked. It felt good. I started thinking, maybe there’s more to this homework than just letting go of following the rules. Maybe it’s also how the process of messy art will help me. To get the ideas out of my head and onto paper. And then refine them after the draft. And now I’m realizing, that’s just how making art truly works.
Most people don’t create something they’re happy with as a one-off with no draft and no practice. It takes refinement. Iterating. Patience. It’s a process. And sometimes you spit on your freshly inked drawing after erasing the pencil lines, while trying to blow away the eraser dust. 🙄 😭 😂 🤷🏻♂️
