Hey guys! So sorry that I haven't been posting! We got a new puppy and my older fur baby is dealing with a few health issues, so things have been crazy! I've been lucky to even keep up with daily posts on Instagram and such.
Anyway! I wanted to take some time to talk about these little animations I've been doing on Mondays. I don't always have time to upload one every week, but I try to make their message clear and make them smile-worthy when I do post them.
Evolution with Character
It all started with this little guy. I was tired. My fibromyalgia was kicking my butt. I had work to do, but I really wasn't in the mood to do it.
While procrastinating, this little fella popped into my mind. A silly little blob that illustrated how I was feeling. I wanted to feel motivated and was determined to work. But...it was quickly snuffed out by the urge to nap.
The character changed to a turtle for an animation bidding people to come out of their shells and then ultimately wound back around to this guy hugging a star. His eyes got bigger and a signature expression started to develop.
Eventually, I settled on a style (sort of). I try to end all the animations (so far, anyway) with this expression - a mini smile and offset eyes. It illustrated a feeling of silliness or being carefree. He's just being himself at his happiest!
I also ended up foregoing solid, more careful lines for something sketchier. Part of this was for the sake of time. I try to get these done as quickly as possible so I can get back to working on other things or taking part in this cool thing called, "life".
Another reason why I go with the sketchy style is because I think it speaks to the overall message behind these animations. I try to make them to say to myself and others that you don't have to obsess over little details. Everyone's version of perfection is different, so you should try to make things up to standards that make you feel good, as opposed to worrying about what everyone else will think. That's actually the specific message behind the animation this still is from!
Sometimes, I add another character. I try to make it just as absurd as the main fella. I don't want to stray too far from that. I feel like it's important to maintain continuity in the feel of the work to keep people from getting distracted from the message.
For the 4th of July, I went with a little color to look like fireworks!
Overall, it's important to grow and change as an artist. I don't know if I'll always keep doing these, or how much they'll change over time, but I'd like to keep them up. I've gotten a few messages from people every now and again thanking me for these. That means a lot to me. I started these as a self expression to help myself laugh at my own faults and insecurities in hopes that it would help me get over them.
Knowing that it's helping others do the same is really amazing! It lets me and them know that we're not alone in our insecurity. It makes it clear that it's normal to feel that way and not to judge people by posts of finished work - there's always more to the artist than that.
I'm a fairly shy person. Art has always been an outlet for me and it feels really good to be able to connect with people through it.
To see these and more of my animations for yourself, follow me on Deviant Art, Instagram, and/or Twitter! Links in the "Contact" tab!
