In the 'slog' stage

[ellenmillion]

I am in the slog stage. That horrible, tedious point of a piece where I'm questioning the need to space every single damn teeny little scratch of the pen so perfectly apart and the temptation to get sloppy is extreme. Enough has been inked in that I can't really brainstorm new ideas, so it doesn't feel very creative anymore. I'm sure that I'll never get that detail to look quite right anyway, and what was I thinking tackling something with transparency and WHY SPIDERS. I hate spiders...




You may note that I'm not using dots. (Yet - I may on the moons...) I didn't use any in the Roses piece, either. I'm trying to be disciplined, make myself use other techniques, try things that I haven't before. It's hard! Let's go shopping!

Comments

[brightling.livejournal.com]

That 'slog' stage sounds far too familiar. For me at least it strikes at the most unexpected times too. :P

I have always found crystals and gems in particular of any translucent objects to be some of the most obtuse things to ink ever. With the facets and the angles they always end up darker than I want, or the lines start indicating the wrong shape, or just something.

Which is why for that crystal-cavern piece [Eeee!! *dances in circles* I got featured for the Zine!!!] I opted to ink the outline and use the colouring of all the crystals to indicate their shape. But that doesn't work so well if you're not necessarily intending to colour it does it. :/

For what its worth I like the layout of this one. Particularly the flow from the orb and cracked earth up to the webbed cliffs and crystals.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

For once, I think color would've been easier! A lot of my problem is too dark or just something, so I think I'll go back to the very basic linework, throw on just the barest of cross-hatch on a few facets and see if that works better.

*shiver*

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

The radial lines from the cracked ice-planet ... oh wow. The hairs on the back of my neck give it a standing ovation.

Also, you said that you wanted to stretch yourself because you don't usually draw ice/crystals and you don't like spiders. So, you're definitely accomplishing those goals!

Re: *shiver*

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I love the floating space station, too. Gives you a real 'woah' moment of perspective.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Hi, Ellen! I've known of your site for a while and just found your blog. Mind a friending?

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

I'd be tickled!

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Duly added!

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

I;d love to go shopping.

However, I've just paid only almost all my bills. So... not today.

Maybe tomorrow.