I’ve been avoiding my current portrait WIP. Well, that’s not entirely true. I have done a crapload of work on his clothes and I have even started his hair. I just haven’t had any time to take update photos. So let’s blame it on laziness. Hopefully, I can post something substantial tonight.

However, despite that, I have an update! After Esch’s suggestion of digitally colouring my circus freaks, I went back and spent a little more time on the line work of the first drawing. It’s not 100% where I want it to be, but it’s getting there. I just want to make sure all of my line work is pretty solid before I attempt to colour it.

I have found a few tutorials on the internets that might help my big n00b ways out. So we’ll see. I’ve even been using my tablet. Woop. And let me say this, its amazing how much using the tablet in front of you, like a sketchbook can really improve your skillz.

Thanks to everyone who participated in my education poll! I’ve been giving a lot of consideration and re-consideration to whether or not I really do want to go back to finish my degree in a few years. There are many reasons not to and only a couple valid ones that support returning to school full-time. So its kind of a no brainer.

Really, it comes down to the fact that returning to school to complete my degree won’t necessarily make me a better artist. I can take courses here and there and still grow as an artist, expand my craft and be completely (or mostly) satisfied with my creativity and my skills. I don’t need a piece of paper to prove that. I know, I know, this is something that my peers have been telling me for years. I’m just a little slow on the uptake sometimes.

From a pragmatic point of view, given my current aversion to selling my artwork, the time and financial commitment that I would need to invest in completing my degree could never, ever be recouped so it doesn’t make a whole lotta sense to do it. Especially since I could be perfectly content in taking evening and weekend courses/workshops and having the same type of satisfaction.

Plus, I won’t lie, the idea of returning to art school at the age of - what - 37 or 38 does not appeal to me. I remember how arrogant and annoying art school students can be when I was 18, I can’t imagine how much I would loathe it at almost 40 (gah, did I just type almost 40?! Christ.) No, thanks.

There are other ways to experience creative and artistic community. WetCanvas, for example. And I might even try to join a local group or something.

Unless something outrageous happens, I believe I’m just gonna keep truckin’ and leave the degrees to lawyers, doctors, archaelogists, and all those fancy smart folks.

In other news, I have posted a shiny new poll to the right. It’s directed mostly to those artists who work digitally (or have worked digitally). My pal, Esch, suggested that I give digitally colouring a try for my circus freaks series, which might be kind of appealing to me. But I’d like some suggestions about software packages from those who are more knowledgeable.