Look How Far You’ve Come …
The price of admission for “getting gud” at art is, honestly, being only okay or sometimes even being bad at art. This is all stuff that I made before 2023, to remind myself that even when I think I’m not “good enough” (thanks, imposter syndrome!) I can look back at this and see every bit of improvement.
I don’t care if it’s embarrassing or “cringe” or whatever. I literally don’t care. I look back at this, think of the woman I was then, and I think kindly of her. She had so much struggle ahead of her, and she still found joy in art every time she made it, even when it was being made for a deadline, for someone who ended up leaving her life, or if it was just for her own enjoyment and fun.
Have fun with art. Don’t worry about it being “cringe” or any of that nonsense. Cringe is the enemy of authenticity. As Dolly Parton once said, and to paraphrase it somewhat, “Figure out what sets your soul on fire, and then do it on purpose.” Only way to do that is to try things out!
2009 - a graphite drawing of Andrew Scott
2010! I plan to redraw this one. This was from my days trying to get a tattoo apprenticeship.
2022 - concept art of a tree gnome for a TTRPG
2009 - quick sketch of my sister
2012 - from my tattooing days, and I drew an oni (Japanese demon), finishing the graphite drawing with watercolours.
2006 - this drawing is 20 years old!
2010 - sketches of family members
2012 - from my Illustration course in BCFE. This was a challenge to draw a fruit or vegetable in a different artistic style each time. This was classic old school tattoo style.
2012 - from my Illustration course in BCFE. This was a challenge to draw a fruit or vegetable in a different artistic style each time. This was in the style of botanical illustration.
2012 - from my Illustration course in BCFE. This was a challenge to draw a fruit or vegetable in a different artistic style each time. This was in the style of the amazing Gris Grimly.
2012 - from my Illustration course in BCFE. This was a challenge to draw a fruit or vegetable in a different artistic style each time. This was in the style of Jhonen Vasquez.
2012 - from my Illustration course in BCFE. This was a challenge to draw a fruit or vegetable in a different artistic style each time. This was in the style of Klimt.
2012 - Illustration course. We were doing print making, and I wanted to make Lady Gaga lyrics into an illuminated manuscript. I etched my acrylic with an etching needle, and even used a tattoo machine (Micky Sharpz tattoo machine) to do some of the work.
2012 - an experimental piece, reflecting on my time in the hospice and my time as a tattoo apprentice. Part of being an apprentice is learning to dismantle and reassemble your machines so you know how they work, and how to make them function properly. My time in the hospice was to help rehabilitate my physical disability. I felt like a mermaid at times, and like I could only move properly in the hydrotherapy pool, while being useless on land. I used parts of the tattoo machine to depict the most painful parts of my body. It's an unfinished piece, but one I would like to revisit.
2016 - an oil pastel piece on paper treated with sunflower oil. I wanted to depict a foetal skull, as I find skulls to be incredibly beautiful. Underneath our skin, and all the superficial differences in us, we are all of us a death's head beneath the flesh. Foetal skulls are especially tragic, eternally grinning toothlessly, a symbol of the most devastating loss possible, but eerily beautiful in their own way.
2022 - concept art of a ghostly abbess for a TTRPG
2021 versus 2012 - showing my progress as an artist
2022 - concept art of a rock gnome for a TTRPG
Cthulhu inspired knotwork from 2012
2022 - concept art of a baby dragon for a TTRPG
2022 - concept art of magical devices for a TTRPG