The creative Process: Learning about yourself
it takes a couple of projects to know how you work
first of all, i would like to announce TWO PAGES OF PBAT ARE OUT , we’re almost finished with the whole comic!! genuinely thank you all for sticking around since October 2024!
Keep your eyes on the prize: perseverance
The creative process as most people know is a tricky one. It’s a constant battle of learning and executing a project- you’re also battling between your own ego and skill ,which becomes extremely exhausting and humbling.
Unfortunately.. there’s no sugar coating this, you have to persevere through all the hardship to get what you want and find out what works for you.
You have to “keep your eyes on the prize” and maybe that prize is just “finishing a painting” or “completing an animatic”- remind yourself of that prize. trust me when i say nothing is better than finishing a project no matter what the results are.
but Im realizing in order for me to finish my projects I have to trust myself to continue on.
Bet on yourself
kind of goes without saying but in order to continue to learn and finish projects, you need to show up for yourself and adapt a “i can do this attitude”.
HA- it’s easier to be self demeaning rather than give yourself a pat on the back- but let me to tell you, if you don’t even believe in yourself, no one will.
it’s the hard truth, the image you have of yourself absolutely does reflect in your art and in person- no one wants to be around someone who self deprecates.
literally building up trust and comfort for yourself also helps you continue working on projects you love.
literally i write affirmations to myself whenever i’m starting a hard project or if i’m not feeling self confident- i’m recognizing my own turmoil without deprecating my feelings or my work.
i know y’all think writing affirmations or speaking positively towards yourself is corny, but know what else is corny? dulling your own spark.
there’s literally no point in throwing hate at yourself and no, it’s not the same thing as being self critical. I’ll argue with you on this one.
now once you start finishing your projects, you realize you have a body of work that you’re not so sure about- why? it’s because you’re refining your taste.
REFINING YOUR PALATE
Now after a couple of projects, I was like putting the work i finished in my portfolio, but i also sat back and stared at it.
I was reflecting upon the hardships that came with working on the project and thought “hm.. would i like working on a show or book that may inflict some of these hardships?”
if i thought no then ill keep the work on my computer and evaluate if it was the project itself that was hard ,was it the process i took completing the project was troublesome, or was it the genre i’m working in not for me?
and it’s okay if you answer these questions like “yes the project was hard, the process of making it was hard, and no i did not like the genre i was working in”. it’s refining what YOU like about the work you’re doing and the process you’re taking.
and no, it’s not a waste of time if you don’t show the finished project. It’s directing you to learn aspects of yourself that you would have not know if you didn’t do it at all.
now if you thought “yes, i would love to work on a show, book, etc similar to my project even if it may inflict similar issues!”. Awesome, keep going in that direction! while similar issues may arise, you now have insight on how to prevent them in the future <3
PIXIE PROCESS: insight to my workflow
While writing this down, I reflected and realize that my work flow for storyboarding is incremental based. I cannot for the life of me just continue to save over on the same document over and over again lol freaks me out! I wouldn’t have known this if i didn’t try this with my project “Good Witch Flunk”
now my comic process is a bit straight forward and that’s because it’s just thumbnails to sketch to ink and color to lettering, less stuff to really do over in comparison to any animation work.
and also 90% of my time is spent writing because i value a good story over a pretty drawing.
BOOK TALK
now considering this for future blog post- i will be doing podcast format from now on because it is easier on my hands and brain power haha. ALSO SUPER LONG ONE!!!! GET A CUP OF COFFEE AND A SNACK
books mentioned
Of cattle and men by Ana Paula Maia
Anne of Greenville by Mariko tamaki
PIXIE SNIPPET: “PLAIN JANE CANT PICK AN OUTFIT” and “cozy and comfy” outline
god working on this 6 page comic took WAAAY longer than i expected, but reminding myself that I got it done and I was working on it while grieving a death. i initially wanted to start and complete the project by Jan 6th to Jan 31st. in reality, it was Jan 6th to Feb 10th- a whole month!!
anytime i’m planning projects like these i need to remind myself that
I cant work 3 days back to back, i’m always burned out by that
I should not rush the comic process
schedule in 1 week breaks
while comics is quicker to do in comparison to animation that doesn’t mean it’s easier to do. you have to pay attention to more detail, make sure shit can be easily read, etc etc it’s time consuming as fuck!!
literally learning about myself, how my body works, and my art all at the same time! woo hoo!
MUSIC TIME
