sketchbook explorations

I've been doing some thinking over the break; like, "Who am I in regards to my art?", and, "What do I have to contribute?" Constantly I am berated by thoughts of plagiarism and hero-worship.

Let's get one thing straight: I fucking love James Jean. It worries me; I admire his work so much so that when I look at a blank page in my sketchbook I see a piece by James, not by me. There are a few artists whose personal vision is so refined and pure that the work temporarily blinds me to all other options and outcomes. Andrew Hem puts me in a similar place- among others I won't bother to mention.

I've decided that although I would most definitely gain some sort of sick satisfaction from being able to imitate James (who wouldn't?), I know I have much more to gain from eventually refining my own work down to its own purity...That satisfaction, I'm sure, will be long overdue.

For now I am content to allow these people to inform my work but not dictate it; in the meantime, I must broaden my own influences.

I'll be posting some more sketchbook work up soon, once I get some good quality photos.

2011

I'm back at school once again. Looking forward to this week of classes, mostly because of my intro to illustration class and the fact that on Friday I get to meet a living legend, George Pratt.

I know that 2011 is going to be a very productive year, and a formative one. Make yourselves better this year guys. And don't make resolutions, make goals. Making a resolution to do something is almost a surefire way to make sure that specific thing does not happen. Set your goal; then a halfway point; then a halfway point between that. Plan specifically to help you reach the goals you want to accomplish. Drifting aimlessly has never gotten anybody anywhere. Don't be mediocre, average, or complacent. Look to convenience only when convenience makes it easy to work hard.

After reading some very inspirational words from Jason Manley...no more bullshit. I am posting this so it has even a little bit of solidity in the real world.
Every time I've played video games instead of working on projects. Not gonna happen anymore. It is 6:50 in the morning and I've been up all night procrastinating.... And now I'm thinking about what could have been if I could have attended TAD. I am going to a school that costs Forty-thousand dollars a year. When I think about this and about how much time and money I'm wasting I cringe. I'm an idiot. I listen to the stories of amazing artists who dug themselves out of pits hundreds of times deeper than mine; and I'm not even in one. I have the whole world in front of me, and a jumping off point. I don't know where I'll be in a year. But I want to be better than the average ringling senior by then. I want to be at a professional level by the end of my sophomore year. And I'm going to make it happen. Fuck anyone who says differently, including me. My sketchbook should have been full 2 months ago. This means even less Sonic Adventure 2 Battle for some people and for that I am truly sorry (you know who you are). I don't know what this will sound like to other people or if they even care but I've just suddenly realized what I can and will do. And for you Very Potter Musical fans: It'll be totally awesome.

Fuck anyone who thinks this is stupid or unnecessary. I suggest you read this if you are one of those people: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=635510&postcount=182

 

Spit in the face of anything that tells you no. Be prepared to spit in your own face.