Greetings and Art Wank

Because I'm lazy and taking the easy way out when it comes to quickly adding content to this blog, I'm going to copy/paste some stuff that's in my LJ. Mostly spleen venting. I'll start with a bitchfest about what I think of badly drawn comics that edge out potentially swell art. Those who follow my LJ already know how much I hate crappy comics and Cathy certainly fits the bill.

Cathy is a syndicated comics character and might be getting close to 30 years old now. As far as I remember, she's looked just the same. Always facing the 'camera.' (if you don't believe me, try to imagine, or draw, her in profile or 3/4 view) Her plotlines are as follows:

Eat too much, feel guilty.

Shop too much, feel guilty.

Touch off her mother's overdeveloped protectiveness, feel guilty.

Try on swimsuits she has no hope of wearing, feel guilty and fat.

Get in mild tiff with boyfriend/husband, feel guilty.

This artist pisses me off because in all the years she's had this comic, she never bothered to learn to draw and make it appealing to look at. Look at her hands. They're distorted, epileptic spiders at the end of her stumpy arms. She doesn't have any real expressions. Guisewite can't draw anything in perspective so when Cathy walks toward us, the front foot bends like a sheet of paper. You can read Guisewite's confusion in the drawing itself. I hate this artist. She's making a mint and has a colossal fan base. She is like those very bad DA artists that somehow grow a following anyhow, despite themselves. Usually with the latter it's a combination of high drama and fanart. Cathy is anti-drama. My guess she is there because she has always been there, like an old man's corn. Universal Press doesn't have the heart to toss her to the curb and make way for fresh talent. For people like me who are working their asses off to get good, her comic says 'what's the point?'




Why is that saleswoman at a full-out sprint when she should be walking? And why is she walking at all? Everyone's on the same freakin' visual plane! Cathy is right beside her! And what the fuck is up with the foot? See? Bent up like a sheet of paper.




Love the way she mixes up the angles here. What artistry! What imagination!





The animals definitely challenge Guisewite's mad skilz.


Of course I couldn't vent like this without adding a touch of frosting to an already bitter cake. I give you Cathy in Profile from my own little hands:
































I can draw better than this, honest!



Study of hot dude but with undies. I went wrong with his face because I was too busy trying to get Mr. Happy cradled juuuuuust right in those BVDs. Priorities people.






This was a Photoshop lesson I did on Concept Art. It was on blending technique and how not to lean on the smudge tool, soft brushes, airbrushes and their evil ilk. Those of you new to blogger can click on any pic to see it full size.