Feeling a little discouraged. (Patreon)

I finally hit a wall with the sketch book. It took longer than I thought it would, but my unfamiliarity with traditional mediums started getting to me when I tried to do the hand studies I talked about. 

It almost feels like I don't know how to work within the confines of the paper, and my lines are so unsure compared to what I can do with a tablet. It should feel the same, right? Some of it does, but the control I usually feel with figure drawing is gone. I never had much to begin with, I am still learning after all, but to start over like this can be very humbling when you thought you knew more than you really do.

But maybe I needed this. To take that discouragement and turn it into something else. So yesterday I decided to try to apply some of what I've learned from keeping the sketch book and use it in my digital figure drawings. It helped me gain back some of the confidence I've lost, and while I am taking a small break from the sketch book, I will keep experimenting with trying to mimic that traditional look of figure drawings in photoshop like I do with my paintings. Then once I go back, maybe I can take some of what I learned with me. It is all about finding the good within the bad, and figuring out a way around these mental blocks. 

Side note! I have looked at a lot of Kevin Chen's and E.M. Gist's figure drawings for inspiration lately, as they both have a style I really like. Thought I would share links to some of their work. I also attached the full figure drawing that I used in the banner below!