Talent or Hard Work?

He is talented. She is very talented. How many times do we hear this?  This term is used for people who excel at anything, whether it's sports, music or other examples I can't think of at the moment.  Well, I'd like to talk about this term being used as often as it is when it comes to illustrators, whether it's about 2D, 3D, concept art, all the way to traditional.  We see artists being labeled this term all too often, and I believe people are making a mistake when they say or write this.

The artists who are that good are at that level because they work their asses off.  They study and paint at a rapid pace, far more than others.  Illustration for me is certainly a skill that you can improve on the more you do, and I'd like to believe this applies to anything else.  10,000 of practice to become a master in your profession.  This quote that's overused makes a lot of sense.  I say this for people getting into the business or simply fans of these artists.  It's a backhanded compliment.  You don't have to take my word for it, you just have to take my word when I say that I've heard and read interviews of people far better than I state this.

Doesn't matter how good you are, everyone needs to work their ass off to succeed.

I'm not saying talent is irrelevant.  There are freaks out there that have incredible talent.  Tesla, Beethoven, Shakespeare, Musk are all freaks of nature when it comes to their fields.  But you can bet that they've worked their asses and engross their lives into their field.  Look at Romario or Ronaldinho for Brazil, incredible talents that could have been much better if they had a better work ethic despite being freaks of nature when it comes to football.  Now look at Cristiano Ronaldo, whose won every title for two of the biggest clubs in the world.  He doesn't drink and is the first in training and works his ass off given by many interviews of football players who have played with him.  What's my point?  That even talented people need to work their asses off. 

Concept Artist Exposition: Steven Messing

This is another blog post where I fanboy over another fantastic artist.  This time around, his name is Steven Messing.  I intend to become one of the best illustrators in the world in the future, so I look at what the best illustrators in the game can do.  These guys have amazing capabilities through many years of working their asses off and crafting their style (or talent, as people who don't know shit about working hard call it).  One thing I notice is that quite a few of them incredibly skilled, their creativity is not at the same level as their illustration ability.  Steven Messing on the other hand, has both the ability to paint at a very high level on top of having the creativity to back it up.  That's why he is one of my favorite artists.

that color composition...

Now there is little point in reading me ramble on and on about how good he is.  Use this wonderful tool known as the internet, with this lovely NSA data mining website known as Google and search him up.  I follow him on facebook as he regularly updates his work there, I'd recommend you do the same.

His official website: here

Personal Projects - Pushing The Schedule, Taking Your Time

Note that this does not include work with a client. Once the date is set and the contract is signed, there is no turning back. If you need extra time, then you really have noone to blame but yourself. This is about personal projects. Artists generally have an issue of knowing when to let go of a project. People get better at this unsurprisingly enough the more they keep painting. This recent project I worked on was the opposite case. I had a plan of when the project would end. I finished the project. But, it didn't look all that good. It was "ok".

I create a youtube speed painting every month, and release it on the first of the month. If you look at the dates, most are released on the 1st of every month. The few that are not were videos that I had to re-upload due to song, copyright infringements despite not monetizing any of my videos. Now before I start on another rant on Youtube and their idiotic policies, I'll try push my ADD away and try to focus on the topic at hand. I decided for the first time to take an extra day and work on the final illustration and improve it to a level that I was satisfied with. This is my 29th speed painting, and it's a shame that my run of releasing my videos on the first of every month was finally broken. Lets hope my next run is more than 28 speed paintings!

Make sure you know when to let go of your illustrations and in some rare occurrences, going back and improving your work! 

Speed Painting 29: LittleBigPlanet 3

LittleBigPlanet 2 was one of my favorite games last generation. With LBP3 coming out, I really wanted to make my next speed painting about this franchise. Considering my last speed painting was quite dark, this is a refreshing change.

I decided to create the typical planet with Sackboy on top of it as we have seen but add my own spin to it. I chose to add Toggle and add Batman with Redhood since they both star in the next Batman game, Arkham Knight. Considering Sony always shows the Batman games on their shows, I picked that as the costume theme. Also, I always look for excuses to draw Batman.

I added a town and some colors with the background robots so the blue light would bring the illustration together. The little Roboto also has some good information there if you look close enough! ;)

Technology & Humanity

I work with computers every day.  I have a PC at work, an iMac at home, and a macbook that I use both at work and home.  When I go home, I use my computer to either paint digitally so I can further improve my skills, or work on personal projects that may or may not change my career in a big way in the future.  Still failing on that latter point mind you, but the point remains that I use computers quite a bit.

I realize people use their tablets, computers and especially cellphones everywhere they go.  It seems the technological items that can bring us together take us further apart.  I go to lunch with some of my co-workers and at times they're all looking down at their cellphones.  It's probably because of how bored they are talking with me, but that's besides the point. 

I just mentioned that I use computers exessively, but I try to minimize it when I can.  I never buy ebooks, I prefer looking away from a computer if I am reading a book.  I use my cellphone sparingly though I imagine I am an exception in North America in this regard.  This video greatly illustrates how important technology is and some negative effects it has on society.  I was in 5 different countries in Europe over a month ago and noone used cellphones like people in Canada and America do.

Also stop taking pictures of your food everyday and posting it online.  No one gives a shit. :)

Jerry Seinfeld Hilarious Speech on the Clio Awards Ceremony

Jerry Seinfeld has given a hilarious design speech when he won the Clio award. I love design, but this was hysterical how on point he was for everything. Be careful when you give a comic an award when he's already won everything and doesn't give a shit, you might not like their reaction.

"I love advertising, because I love lying." - Jerry Seinfeld

Speed Painting 28: Supernatural

With season 10 of Supernatural coming out in October, my sister suggested I illustrate one of my favorite TV shows of all time.  Same & Dean have been through hell their entire lives, especially once the series picks up.  The episode where they go to jail was used as inspiration for my entire speed painting.

I decided to put them both next to one another making poses.  Dean is being silly, and I add a bit of intensity to Sam, especially with the whole Lucifer arc that revolved around him.  Dean is wearing black, and Sam is wearing white, though with those eyes looks can be deceiving.  None of my previous 27 speed paintings have a song that fits the illustration/topic lyrically as well as this one does, so make sure to pay attention to the lyrics.  Enjoy.