I was thinking of doing the monthly wrap-up after I finished making all the revisions I got from my critique session since it had been a while. But, because it’s been so long and I really want to put in the effort to fix everything up properly, it looks like I won’t make it in time. So, here’s the monthly summary for April, ahead of schedule.
Days I Drew: 29!
My bad, the calendar’s Japanese. Couldn’t make an English one happen, ya know?
Missed one day ’cause I crashed, but still managed to pick up the pen for 29 out of 30 days.
Those drunken scribbles after a night out are a total train wreck, but hey, gotta give props to myself for still grabbing that pen and drawing something.
Looking back, the second half of the month was all about drawing “Teto” non-stop, desperately trying to get those submissions in for critique – makes me laugh.
ad some random stuff happen too, like my Steam account almost getting hijacked, and some downer moments emotionally. But overall, looking back, it feels like I pushed through and did pretty well this month.
Gotta keep this momentum going!
Stuff I Was Practicin
So, ain’t nothing super special I was drillin’ this month, but I kept up with touching my art every day. Also spent some brainpower thinkin’ ’bout what to do with my Twitter account, kinda wanna get serious about doin’ some proper illustration studies, and even had a fleeting thought ’bout remakin’ some old stuff I drew.
Basically, this whole month was a mad dash to get those critique illustrations submitted, so I was mostly just huntin’ down references and drawin’ Teto ’til time ran out.
Ideally, I’d like to switch between workin’ on themed illustrations and just plain practice, but time’s always a pain. Gotta come up with some kinda strategy for that.
It’s a bit of a solo mission ’round here when it comes to this stuff, so it feels like I’m just wingin’ it and probably not being super efficient. Oh well, gettin’ ready for next month!
Finished Pieces
Kinda feels like cheatin’ a bit, but April 1st is Teto’s birthday, so I got all hyped up and just went for it, drawing a birthday pic for her. Then there’s the Teto I did for that critique session the other day.
Man, I really dig Teto, huh?
As for ‘Override’, it’s still in the middle of getting those sweet revisions.
Fingers crossed it turns out super cute!
How Many Times I Hit the Bar
Five times. Pretty sure I went out in the first week too, but can’t say for sure…
New Year’s Goals: Where Am I At?
So, my goals for this year are still these three bad boys:
- Cut down the time it takes to finish one illustration.
- Actually finish at least two illustrations a month.
- Aim for triple-digit likes on my art.
As you can tell from the fact that I was drawing Teto all the time, I’m nowhere near shortening the time it takes to finish one illustration. That goal’s way too hardcore. Gotta keep at it though.
Managed to squeak out two illustrations this month, so I’m countin’ that as a win, even if it feels a little cheaty. Gonna push myself in May too!
As for aiming for triple-digit likes, that’s kinda outta my hands, so it’s more of a hopeful target. But I reckon once my art gets even better, I can start thinkin’ ’bout strategies. So, I’ll keep that goal in mind while levelin’ up my skills.
On a happy note, the piece I uploaded to Pixiv got way more love than usual, which is a real boost!
Also, got a comment for the first time in about six months, and it seems like it kinda hit the spot for someone who’s into being stepped on – well, that’s a new one, lol. They were a foreigner, though.
Bluesky situation
Same old, same old. Gotta draw way, way more, though.
Plans for May
So, continuing from last month, here’s what I’m aiming to do in May.
Gonna keep up the drawing habit, and for May, I’m thinking of either doing studies to nail likeness in characters or trying to copy the style of artists I’m really into.
It’s weird, the art I just love to look at is different from the stuff I actually wanna draw, but there are about three artists out there whose vibe I’m really diggin’ and wanna try to replicate.
You know how a lot of illustrators say you should focus on copying just one artist when you’re practicing? Well, I’ve never been able to settle on that one person… until now! I think I’ve finally found three artists whose work I actually wanna emulate, so I’m gonna pick one of ’em and dedicate May to tryin’ to draw like them.
Gotta reach out to see if I can even post it on my blog, but I’m planning to start tomorrow. Might not happen tomorrow though, ’cause I’ll probably be busy with those critique revisions.
Summary
Ended up spending a bit of time on some unexpected blog tweaks, but overall, I think April went pretty much according to plan.
Even though some days it felt forced, the fact that I picked up the pen and drew something every single day, no matter what, has given me a little boost in confidence, I think.
I wouldn’t say it’s a solid habit yet, but I’m definitely gonna keep at it.
I still have absolutely no clue how much I’m actually improving, but when I line up the four Tetos I’ve drawn so far, I kinda get the feeling I might be leveling up a little bit.
Love my old Teto drawings too, though!
And hey, Teto even got her 3P color scheme（HP）, so there’s still more to explore with her!
Really hopin’ she gets even more popular, ya know?
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