kingoffoxes

.. New artwork is up! It's been a long time, regrettably.

Once my scanner's fixed, I hope to more prolific with my submissions.

I need to buck up on my writing though. It's been a bit dry over the past weeks.. it seems I'm retreating into myself, somewhat unwilling to write about what I've been going through..

I've got some new art to upload - all I need is a scanner. My Canon one is missing both the USB and power cables, which were lost in the confusion when I was shifting house. Shitty. There might be a small problem getting hold of the power cable though, sigh. There seems to be a dozen errands I've got to do - sign up for bike lessons, get my new glasses done, finish up on the researching for the article, more art requests..

It's good though. All good. For I am kept in the Lord and only blessings lie in my way.

As the title suggests, it's been a long time since I've uploaded any drawings. It's not due to my lack of a scanner, but instead I've hit a plateau of sorts in my drawing. There seems to be a lack of idea and creativity of any kind when I pick up the pencil. Nothing comes. No rush of genius or transcendent awakening.

The paper lies cold and lifeless, the bare whiteness reflecting the emptiness inside me. I've quite a few half-finished works and have made feeble attempts to get started on them once again, but the heart goes out of me as I make some absent-minded strokes with the pencil. I know even art requires a certain measure of dedication and a hard-work ethic, but it's hard to get started when you don't even have a point of reference (or inspiration, as some might say) to begin with. It's quite different from writing in my case, when I usually have a dozen ideas swimming in the recesses of my mind, all too ready to be birthed with the tapping of my fingertips. No, it doesn't happen as often as I'd like, but you get what I mean. I hope.

I guess I might come off rather maudlin here in the manner of my writing, but recent events in my life have thrown me a little off-kilter - which explains the mood of this journal entry. It's not too hard to tell, because I tend to write more when I start wading in the pools of melancholy - not very good I suppose, but a cathartic experience like no other (a good beating works too, but that was in another lifetime).

I'll be fine. I know I will. There is strength in the spirit when the flesh falters.

Alright, I've uploaded a couple more sketches that took a horribly long time to finish. My technique leaves a lot to be desired, unfortunately; I tend to apply too much pressure on the pencil when I'm drawing, which results in a faint imprint on the paper. Multiply the impressions due to my own messy sketching, and soon enough you can see haphazard lines all over my once-pristine white paper, making a somewhat unglam finish. It's an unconscious thing, I usually do it when I'm just focused on the piece, so intensely that I'm applying plenty of pressure with my pencil onto the paper.

I'm attempting to remedy this, and I'm thinking of switching to a softer lead pencil, if it helps, before finishing with a sharper, darker lead. Perhaps it'll turn out differently. I've been reading up on some sketching books, hoping to discover a secret method on how to shade like a pro, but so far no such thing. Heh. Well granted I just flip through the books while I'm at the library - I suppose more focused studying is in order.

Anyway, the two sketches I uploaded - Nathan Craft, Son of War and Sandy Quinn, Battle Ready are a couple of my characters in the fantasy storyline I'm putting together. Don't hold your breath, because it's still in its infancy stages, but I'm hoping it shall see the light! I suppose there should be at least one thing I ought to see through to its end. I am also hoping to start up the Baldur's Gate fanfic once again, even though my "partners" all have a regular job now.

Well. I commit my endeavours to my Abba, that everything I put my hand to shall be blessed, exceedingly above all that I can ask or think. Amen!

My second journal entry comes nearly a month after my first one. I am amazed on a daily basis, simply just by browsing some of the pages of the awesomely-talented people around here. I have to admit being overawed and more than a little discouraged, when I compare my mediocre work to theirs.

Yet, I soldier on, and I am thankful for learning so much just by looking at their work. I am not a naturally-gifted artist like so many around here, but I shall at least hone whatever talent God has seen fit to bless me with. May my Father continue to bless me with the abundance that He has bestowed in my life, and even if my work may not measure to the high standards here, I shall definitely enjoy myself immensely in the process. Heh.

Anyway, I digress. I have uploaded three new submissions, the third-and-second-latest being Christmas cards that I drew for Roy in 2003 and 2004. The latest, Rhylin's Anger, depicts Rhylin Swyft, a rogue in my fantasy storyline, not looking very pleased at having his bag of loot being cut open whilst making his escape. He wants very badly to stick that nasty-looking knife through someone's ribs. Look out!