I actually kept pretty busy last month!
I started out drawing some cartoons. Mostly practicing drawing Sailor Moon characters, because I have been watching a lot of Sailor Moon lately. Simple enough.
Then I just kept drawing fan art. It’s such a chill way to practice and it was a lot of fun to work on!
(I finally watched the Captain Underpants movie! Haha. And I’ve been playing a ton of the game Pit People.)
So, some of the cartoons were like, almost very chibi-style. For inspiration, I had been rewatching a Domestika course from Vania Bachur and her work is super cartoony and kawaii. Love it! Anyway. I guess if you let me start drawing cartoons that look kinda like chibis, then I’ll want to try to draw actual chibis. And if you let me start drawing chibis, then I’m going to want to draw anime again too…
Again.
I know, I KNOW. I decided last month (again!) that I wasn’t going to do that anymore… BUT. I think it wasn’t because I’m not interested in that art style. Or that it didn’t make sense for me to make art like that (I mean, what does that even mean anyway??). Really I was just nervous! I didn’t grow up drawing my favorite anime characters (I didn’t even grow up watching anime!). I was nervous I wasn’t good enough, or learning fast enough, or improving enough. How do I know? Because I still feel that way sometimes! (Oh man, especially when I’m about to start sketching. Yikes.) But now I’m just ignoring that feeling and drawing what I want anyway. And lately that has been a ton of anime-style practice! (And it’s not like I’m starting all over! I haven’t forgotten what I’ve learned. And I think maybe I am kinda getting better at it???)
(One drawing from the book Chibi Art Class and one from Anime Art Class! Yay!)
I have pretty specific goals for the kind of anime-style art I want to be able to do. So, I switched up my learning materials to help me better focus! I revisited the Domestika course by Nemupan on anime-style characters. I’m studying Carles Dalmau’s work again. And I’m working through different anime and chibi drawing books– this time both are by the artist Yoai. They are super fun and cute books, and not very technical (which is not a complaint! I’m not getting overwhelmed by the anatomy, and it’s actually kinda fun to feel like a kid again learning how to draw! haha).
Anyway. I blame Sailor Moon. But, also I was working on my comic strip again, when I realized like — this style is totally different from my other work too. And that doesn’t bother me at all? It does exactly what I need it to do for my comics, and I really like it. So i don’t sweat it. Why did I think I was supposed to be working in one art style across my work??? I hadn’t been anyway!
So now the same goes for the rest of my artwork. I can want to draw fun and cute cartoons, chibi and anime characters! They all have different strengths, and I love each style! So, I’m NOT quitting cartoons. I’m NOT reinventing my comic strip style. I’m NOT giving up on anime-style drawing. I’m doing whatever I want, man!
(And I’m still giving myself room to learn and improve and play — to enjoy making art!)
I’m excited to start making illustrations with fun anime characters. And to design doodle-cartoon characters for my graphic novel. And keep doing whatever my comic strip is!
Which by the way, I made a new comic! haha. FINALLY.
I also shared on social media a fan art illustration I did a year ago of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. I realized I’m still really really bad at using social media. I hadn’t shared anything all month! …something to work on, I guess…
So yeah. For May, the plan is to just keep at it!
I still have a lot to learn and practice with anime-style drawing. I want to keep playing and having fun working in my sketchbook. But I also have an illustration idea to get started on. (Actually, I’ve turned the one idea into two illustrations! which is exciting!)
I also want to get another comic done this month!
And my graphic novel! I have less than then pages of editing and layouts remaining! YAY! Next steps will be figuring out how to use Clip Studio Paint? And working on character designs. I’ve done super simple scribbles, so I have an idea of what everyone and every thing looks like already. But I think this month I’ll get to start working on the details and refining it all before I start actually drawing it all! Eek!
In theory I’ll share more stuff on social media too as I’m working this month. But if not, at least I know I’ll still share everything here in the next newsletter!
Time to get to work!
Thanks for reading!
P.S. – Don’t forget! You can support my work (and get cool stuff!) by shopping prints, shirts and more at INPRNT and TeePublic!
Bee Sauls Art 