Climbing Out of the Wreckage and Getting Back on Track

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Working on this painting…

After getting sideswiped by Adobe Fresco and Photoshop and by the idea of being a Painter rather than a comic book artist, I came to my senses and got down on my knees and begged Clip Studio Paint to take me back. The time I spent wandering in the wilderness searching for the Painterly Grail was not wasted. Somehow I came back from my failed expedition into the world of painting as a better me and happier with my own innate style. I’m sure I’ll wander again — I’m a curious lad — but I’ll always come home.

Exhausted and confused in a dark tunnel

Today is the first day in one and a half years that I considered not posting a word. Of course I’ll post something, but I’m feeling at a loss for words. The picture I’ve been working on for five days — Buddy airlifting Betty — looks worse the more I work on it, worse than the original concept sketch in every way. Painting this landscape is ridiculously hard and the results are dismal.

Just now I looked through the storyboard to see if there’s a light at the end of this dark tunnel. I found this picture of my friendly King Snake jungle guide. It’s been so long since I’ve looked at the storyboard that I’ve lost touch with where the story is going. I’m feeling thankful that I have this guy to paint, some day. I’m really digging his weird hand.