You've probably been asked this before-- but how did you learn to draw like that? It's incredible, your likenesses especially. Amazes me every time I check your page. I know the answer is probably mostly Time and then More Time, but is there anything in particular that you think helped? Timed sketches? A certain way of doing studies? Any book recommendations?
*Runs through wall a la Kool Aid Man to answer this question because HOLY HELL DO ARTISTS LIKE TALKING ABOUT THEMSELVES*
Ahem!
Well! The very best, yet worst, but really best thing I’ve ever done to get good at drawing facial expressions was to do three military tours…er…summer seasons at Great America as a caricature artist!
Nothing will give you the practice needed to up your skillset quite like drawing for 13 hours straight while being heckled by large groups of overly sugared, vicious teenagers for 12 weeks in sweltering summer heat.
YOU SUUUUUUCK! Became my battle cry instead of inner monologue of art student sadness.
Thick skin grew, as did my ability to draw likenesses and expressions. (Granted most of the expressions I drew were of boyfriend’s faces all stupidly sappy, ogling their girlfriend who were drawn extra sassy with obnoxious eyelashes. But that’s just how you do with caricatures.)
Anywho!
I’m not saying you have to go join a traveling circus of caricature artists to test your artist’s metal (though it wouldn’t hurt and you’ll have a bounty of bizarre stories for the grandkids when alls said and done!)
However, practicing everyday, while pushing comfort levels and being brave with your lines, will improve your art/illustrations.
And if you think having groups of teenagers making fun of your art, loudly hinting your fashion sense is severely lacking and “DID YOU EVEN ART SCHOOL??” while sticky, little kids swarm into your personal space to the point of almost crawling into your mouth as their parents wander off to the beer garden would actually help you, Great America is always hiring…
for fresh SOULS!
🎶just keep drawing! Just keep drawing!🎶-Dori, probably
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THE BULL
A HARLEQUIN AU CAINE SONGFIC
Harlequin AU and ART credit: @tadc-harlequin-au @iamespecter
WARNING: angst, PTSD, guilt, anxiety, regret, alcohol
~~~
Caine dropped the empty bottle. Numb all over, he slouched in his office chair. His mind finally stopped screaming. Dizzying nothingness awaited him. It was the only potential bit of peace he knew.
Each and everyday, hiding from the sunshine
Wandering in the shade
Not too old, not too young
His soul still aches. That never changed no matter how much he drank. A pain that could never be silenced.
Every night again
Dancing with the moonlight
Somewhere far away, I can hear your call
A giant black bull, covered in colorful eyes, burst through the door. The horned shadow charged Caine, plowing through his desk and throwing him through the wall behind him.
I'm out of my head, of my heart and my mind
Cuz you can run but you can't hide
I'm going to make you mine
Caine fell way too far before hitting ground. Getting up, the City of Circuits was on fire. Human families ran and screamed with their children. Puppets brandishing weapons pursued. Gunfire and explosions made his ears ring.
Out of my head, of my heart and my mind
Cuz I can feel how your flesh now Is crying out for more
The bull was back. Charging through the swarms of panicked people. It didn't touch them, having a clear path through the chaos to Caine. He tried to run. The ground beneath him crumbled.
Ain't No fairy tail what I see in your eyes
Awaiting your mistakes
Not too close, not too far
The abyss that swallowed him was lined with abstract eyes. He landed in something liquid. He couldn't stay afloat, no matter how hard he tried to swim. He went under, hitting the bottom. It was made of glass.
Sneaking in the pain
Every truth becomes lie
I won't trust myself
Once I hear your call
The roar of the bull was the only warning before impact. The glass prison shattered. The force of the bull tossed Caine like a ragdoll across the hard floor. It's hooves trampled him, excruciating pain stabbed his abdomen and head.
I'm out of my head, of my heart and my mind
Cuz you can run but you can't hide
I'm going to make you mine
He saw what he thought was Pomni. She was high up on a platform. He reached out for her. She jumped. She landed face first into the floor, it broke on impact and she disappeared below.
Out of my head, of my heart and my mind
Cuz I can feel your flesh now
Is crying out for more
He screamed. He cried until his voice was gone. Then he was surrounded by Pomni. Over one thousand stoic harlequins stared at him. He couldn't look at them. He heard the bull again.
I'm out of my head, of my heart and my mind
The bull charged through and the harlequins turned into hundreds of thousands of photos. The faces burned off of all of them. Caine was struck again. He didn't even try to get out of the way this time.
Out of my head, of my heart and my mind
The blizzard of photographs cleared to reveal scorched earth. The ground was littered with humans and puppets alike. Marionettes of all sizes lurked in the shadows.
I'm out of my head, of my heart and my mind
Cuz you can run but you can't hide
I'm going to make you mine
Caine stood alone in a dead world. Only the bull remained. It pawed the ground and snorted, its many eyes all focused on him. He closed his eyes as it charged.
Out of my head, of my heart and my mind
Cuz I can feel how your flesh now is crying out for more...
The roar of the bull was the last thing Caine heard before he jolted awake. He was soaked with sweat and alcohol. Bottles littered the floor around his desk. He held his head in his hands. His whole body trembled.
He deserves this.
And he knew why.
~~~
ADDITIONAL ART BY SPECTER HERE!!
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