Sorry for the delay everyone! I took this delay as an opportunity to reflect what I was doing wrong in the past… by being my natural lazy self just so I can prevent it, hopefully for good, in the future. Maybe you guys can learn something or even help!
First off, I’m still very easily distracted by video games, browsing, chatting, and checking my social media and website stats. Compared to before, I definitely have some more self-control now, but this is still the biggest hurdle for me since I do everything on the computer. Looks like it’s time to work on my self-discipline…
Whenever I start a new page, I still get intimidated when faced with a blank page/canvas. Check out the comic template I’m using for Cat Nine, feel my dread! The feeling’s more intense if I’m already late or if I haven’t made anything yet until the deadline approaches. So… I suppose the best solution is to make comics earlier or just keep drawing drawing drawing.
In the past, instead of feeling happy that I finished another page, I just remember the dread of starting another page. Yikes! I congratulate myself after every finished page now, even when I’m not 100% happy with it.
I’m pretty harsh on myself if I make a mistake or don’t know how to draw something. I’ve learned to let go of some of my mistakes, be happy about the things I got right, and make compromises for things I don’t know to draw it well yet (like changing to an easier pose to draw). Oh, and realizing that even professional animators (looks at Samurai Jack Season 5)Â and comic artists make mistakes helped me get over about being a perfectionist too.
Take a look at page 71; if I remember correctly, I didn’t use any references for Keith and Myan so it took forever to draw. I’ve learned to use references more often now, which improves my drawing and saving a lot of time. I can’t recall why I didn’t use references often in the past… maybe I think it was cheating, which it’s not by the way! Well, I’m thankful for my phone and the Internet for the rich resources of references. Perhaps I’ll get a proper digital camera and tripod in the future to help me get more references.
I still underestimate or overestimate my skill when drawing or the time it takes to draw something. I’ll think “Oh, this should be quick and easy to draw” when it’s just the opposite, and then I’ll feel stupid afterwards, “why can’t I draw this properly, I should know this by now” (looking at Keith in panel 2). Sometimes everything goes well though. I dunno about, but since I’ve gotten much better compared to before, the “everything goes well” occurs more often, so perhaps it was just my inexperience and I should definitely be drawing more often.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, or not! Just wanted to get this off my chest. I guess being yourself… might be the worse advise for some people!
This page’s RAWR Patrons. More patrons, First goal is achieved again, and 100 coffees (whaaat)! THANK YOU ALL!!
It’s about time that I get back to drawing extreme angles like this, and I could really use the practice anyway!
As some of you would know (cough patrons), the lion enclosure was originally indoors and uses glass. Later it made more sense to me, in the comic and in real life, for lions to be fenced outside. Now I’m really glad that I made it a fence cause I really wanted to draw the last panel, and gives me an good excuse to get Myan in there!
And some announcements
Episode 5 poll is now closed. Looks like we’re going with “moon”! Most people voted “moon” on the community poll too. Good choice everybody! I haven’t actually finished writing it yet (like most Episodes), but I do have a rough outline and a good idea how to end it.
The words inside parentheses are (animal speak) which only animals can understand. In Cat Nine, animals can understand humans if they’ve already spent some time around them (like in page 132). I’m kinda surprised that it took this long for me to use this trope! I guess Myan was hanging out too much with Keith and friends.
I’m pretty happy with the way the lion came out. I’ve only drawn what, four lions in total in my life (not counting Myan in lion form). Making comics is my way to practice since I find drawing studies kinda boring, though I do make them if I need to. Google Images is also a huge help with photo references too! And Protip: If you can draw cats, you can also draw big cats, more or less.
This page’s Patrons. Second week, and another new patron! Hey, you know who you are, even if you’re not mentioned here I still appreciate your patronage!
Transcript for the image above if for some reason you can’t see or read it.
Show how much you love Cat Nine by pledging just a dollar or more each month. By becoming a Patron, you’ll also receive some sweet Rewards like new wallpapers and exclusive art, and your name will be added to the Patrons page. Check out Cat Nine’s Patreon page for more details!
To celebrate the launch, all rewards are $1 cheaper (except Starter Pack) until the end of July 2017. Anyone who pledges during that time will also have their names recorded on the Patrons page forever as Pioneers.
Rewards
Starter Pack – $1
Access to the Activity Feed
Wallpapers in different sizes:
3840×2160 (16:9)
2560×1600 (16:10)
1600×1200 (4:3)
1280×1024 (5:4)
Add your name on the Patrons page
Reader’s Choice – $3 $2 until July 2017
Bonus art and exclusive comics only for Patrons
Can vote on what the next Episode’s going to be
You can put a link to your website in the Patrons page, if you want!
Plus all previous rewards
RAWR! – $5Â $4 until July 2017
Download Ultra HD archives (in RAR) of past Episodes and bonus art/comics. Updated monthly.
Ultra HD comic size: 3840 x 1183
Includes doodles and sketches from the chatbox and comment section
Your name will be listed below the rant/news section on comics that you’ve supported, if you were a Patron during that month. Your name will stay there forever!
Plus all previous rewards
If you were a RAWR patron when a new comic shows up, your name will appear below the comic like this:
