Sketchy Thoughts 20260603 | My journey with pen and paper
Documenting the week of May 27-June 2
Substack: https://monumentsinruin.substack.com
Some days feel like everything is working against you and the only course of action that makes sense is to completely give up. Don’t let those leashes tangle you up! Instead, take a moment to relax, lay in the grass, soak up some sun and recharge that battery. Whatever is currently taking place will have another side. Some days we have to heal in order to get back on track and play at our best level tomorrow.
Last week we briefly discussed how momentum generates momentum. This week we explore how we use those moments of down time in combination with forward momentum and avoid overheating into spontaneous combustion.
Daily Art | May 27-June 2
I’ve really been on this comic kick lately. A few weeks back I had some down time on the porch and took a moment to read through an issue of Shudder. Since then, the idea of comic illustration and layout has been lurking heavily in my my thoughts.
Looking back to make notes, that is clearly reflected in much of what we see this week.
Sketch and Catch, on hold. Replaced with Heal and Chill. Though you may not be able to tell from this picture, the pup is not enjoying this moment. Being on a leash is a bummer for everyone. In regards to healing, we have a slight limp from playing too hard. Today we had to hang close and simply enjoy the day.
Was pretty happy with this sketch, even though the pup was not so excited about the situation.
Back on the comic kick. This started as an alternate view of the earlier not so super man sketch. Not sure when the decision was made but it eventually turned into a hand. The previous evening I watched a documentary about Jack Kirby on Tubi. Decided to give that Kirby Crackle a shot. Immediately knew this was worth further investigation and would be pulled out of the bag of tricks more often.
If i keep threatening it enough then I will eventually commit to it. In doing so, this is where we start experimenting with letting and layouts for the monster yearbook.
Note: It was a solid reminder of how much I enjoy working with pencil. In a super rare occasion, i chose to erase. This was medicinal for the R and K in order to reshape them.
This was a quadruple whammy, for me. Drawing a new creep, choking up an eyeball, more experimenting with that crackle concept and putting some hatching into the mix. That friendly voice in the back of my head keeps calling out to “Embrace the darkness”. More shadow, more life. Repeat. More shadow, more life.
Saturday mornings in my childhood always meant it was time for cartoons. Though I have always been a late sleeper, it was always worth an early rise to catch some early era animations on the small screen, with rabbit ears and static. In this case, it was early morning motivation. Like most days, this started with some improvisation. The hippie, then the face, work out some of that sizzle and crackle, now it feels like space. This is exciting! What’s next?
A hand, of course! Let’s reach out and grab hold of this one. Whatever happens next, I am already a pleased as one could ask for.
We continue tapping on that classic Kirby door he defined so clearly. Keeping in mind, I am a student. A child behind a closed door. Taking an opportunity to peer through the window and study the work(s) of a giant.
For years the comics that have kept my attention had the Kirby signature all over them. Now it is starting to resonate with my inner child and what influence that may have over me. A way for me to find my own way. To keep pushing further by using the tools he and others have left on the pathway.
After taking the evening to relax and watch a documentary about Chesley Bonestell, it was pretty easy to connect the Kirby/Bonestell master works as influence for what I am clearly dabbling in. Clear inspiration from them both to include more planets, crackle, hatching and fulfil an image of the universe reaching out to those who ask for it’s guidance.
Documentaries noted above: (both found on Tubi)
Kirby at War (2017) (Watch here)
Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With the Future (2020) (Watch here)
Sunday Sketch Challenge | May 31
This weeks challenge was titled, “I’m slowly forgetting your face”. The task was to draw a concept with an obscured face. This vision immediately came to mind and it was really fun to tackle. It may not be totally obscured but sometimes it feels better to adventure outside the rules and follow your emotions. Use the challenge as a way to push yourself into new places of growth, learning and possibly grab a new tool to put in your bag to break out later.
The next day I kept revisiting thoughts of the previous evenings sketch for the Sunday challenge. The “obscured face” was not finished with me yet. As my thoughts drifted, my mind began to picture this vision of a geisha with her fan. The other piece utilized a half page so I decided to use the other half in an attempt at pulling this from my head and put it on the page.
Daily Sketch Challenges | May 26 - June 2
About the image (if applicable)
image (with Day and Challenge description)
Other | May 28
This session was devoted to pushing more darkness into the images. Good or bad, this is how we learn and develop the skills. Sometimes it pays to get ugly!
If you scroll back to the beginning, we can see everything that was tested here in play after May 28th. Admittedly, I have a long way to go and no destination in mind.
The process is the reward.
…is this the end?