Our SVS Virtual Studio MARCH AND APRIL 2022

[braden H]

Y'ALL WANNA HAVE SOME NECTAR!!??

[KatrinaF]

Today in my studio I'm working on coloring my second Lucky piece.

[lizardillo]

@burvantill thank you it’s my first book cover attempt, well… second attempt, the first version was awful so I redrew it from scratch!

[demotlj]

I went on a bird watching outing and did a painting of these two geese. Even when I’m trying to do “serious art” my subjects look like story characters. Of course, they were the ones giving me the eye.

[lpetiti]

Working on trying to start up my Redbubble shop again with some more ocean illustrations. Not that I'll get too much more traction but it's at least getting me working again!

[lizardillo]

Another black and white piece for my portfolio site. This one is based roughly on this month's 'Lucky' prompt. I think I'm going colour it and submit it.

[KatrinaF]

@lizardillo Great story telling and action! Can't wait to see it colored.

[KatrinaF]

Built out my book dummy for "Boats are Boring". Realizing the script need a bit more work.

Working on Roughs for Eps 3 of my webcomic. (For adults)

Scheduled out Eps 2 for April.

[kylebeaudette]

Some dnd type drawings

[burvantill]

@KatrinaF That's great! How are you able to post so quickly?! I know that people post their comics every week but how do you get it all done in one week parts. If I tried that the quality of my art would degrade very quickly🥴. Are you a full time artist/ no day job?

[KatrinaF]

@burvantill This is my first comic and a huge learning curve. I jumped in with both feet and have been dog paddling like a crazy woman. To make sure I can post weekly I created a buffer. 5 weeks ahead at least. Also my Episodes are more like 'chapters' that way I can chunk them into 'scenes' or end on a cliffhanger if I want. That's the cool thing about being your own boss. I can make the episodes as long or short as I want. But I always want to give the reader a 'satisfied' feeling. Like it was worth their time to come and take a look.

The very nature of Comics is to churn and burn. My art does suffer getting 10 - 30 panels out a week. But I had to realize each panel isn't an illustration/painting. That I needed to choose a few impactful panels to really flush out and the rest are lines, flats and shading. AND Comics are about STORY. If the story is engaging and hooks the reader then the art doesn't have to be top notch. So many readers, especially Webcomic readers, swipe past panels in mere seconds! So I'm not going to pour my heart into each panel!

I quit my corporate job last August during the 'Great Resignation'. Then sold my house, moved my family to a new state and said ART is now my job! I've been trying to make it work financially ever since. I even made a business plan which isn't panning out like I wanted So I'm throwing on some more projects to try and get some gigs. So Yes, I'm a full time artist (60-70 hours a week cause I'm manic right now) no day job but a husband who believes in me. If I can't make some $$ soon I'll have to go back to the corp world and since I'm rather old I feel like this is my last stand. I could write on and on about all this but I'll spare you!

If you ever wanna talk more about comics I'm all for it.

Cheers
Katrina

[skillydan]

This weeks Monsters.Go

[burvantill]

@KatrinaF THANK YOU FOR THE HONESTY! I'm really glad you said all that. I have been working on a short comic and having a great time doing it, but it is taking some time to get it done, because I do have a day job. I have been looking into the future at that black cloud of weekly comic drops and DREADING it. THAT is not something I want. I thought that I wanted to be a web comic artist, but I'm thinking my lifestyle and art lends itself more toward physical publishing. There is a comic artist/writer that I really like (Skottie Young) and he is killing it making some short series' comics with Imagine. I'm thinking that's more up my alley. I don't have to kill it though, since I have learned, about myself, that I will always have a day job, lol. I need that sense of security to relax enough to make good art, even if it comes at the cost of my daily hours. You have helped me come to a decision and I thank you immensely.

BTW, I really like your rough ink and watercolor illustrations. The little pixie tent is adorable. =)x

[lizardillo]

@KatrinaF thank you

[KatrinaF]

@burvantill I hope I wasn't too honest! LOL BTW I also create my webcomic in book format then transfer to long-scroll for web viewing. That way I can always print if I want to. I'm in the process of printing my first episode for a local Con. Not sure it's going to go over well but I'll have it there anyway.

Since I'm pre-published with no agent the only way I can get my stuff out there is to throw it on the web. I don't want to wait to be hired by a publisher. I'm getting too old to hope someone will like my stuff. And I know there are SO many other artists who are better. That's just the plain truth. I just want my art/stories out there and to find my audience. It's a grind of Tiktok making, fan art creating, Instagram posting, Twitter tweeting. THEN I have time to do my comic/ illustrations and extras for Patreon. I don't have it all down yet but I'm TRYING. phew!

I googled Skottie Young and his stuff is amazing. I'll have to follow him!

[Asyas_illos]

Working on some personal projects/ fan art made into book covers. First up is ghost adventures! Maybe a bit cheesy but I love those guys lol! This the first rough

[Asyas_illos]

Done some clean up and started characters!

[lizardillo]

@andreazupcsan I love the feathers on these, so well rendered. And their expressions!

[andreazupcsan]

@lizardillo thank you! I’m still trying to find that sweet spot between cartoon and realism!

[Janette]

I my first 'out of my comfort zone' fine art show opening this past week. I had so much fun making these abstract paintings. It felt like a really big deal. I had a name tag and everything!!