scruffyronin wrote:
Spin Doctor wrote:
This is all top notch!
I used to draw a lot and aspired to be a comic book artist as a kid. But I injured my hands working a construction job in my teens and never quite got the feel back for pencils and pens.
My youngest daughter (11 and born nearly blind) is more talented than I ever was. I showed her this thread (her vision's much better now) and she loves your work!
Thanks and sad to hear what happened to you. Damn, I couldn't tell that you had difficulty with your hand seeing as your customs are so damn clean. Better than what I can do. Maybe you can get back to drawing? If you don't mind me asking, was it nerve damage that made you feel that way? I remember when I had spinal cord injury at 19 from diving at 30' high, my whole body was tingling yet numb from the neck down. I wasn't paralyzed but my locomotor skills was gone. Gradually got the feeling back after a year.
I'm glad she's doing great now and taking up art. By the way, if this is what she wants to pursue. I know this is unsolicited advice, just that I wish someone told me this when I was younger. Can you tell her to study anatomy first then how to do fabrics then backgrounds and perspective? And move only to the next stage if she'd notice major improvement compared to her older works. If she did really great then, only move to the next stage when her work is passable compared to professionals. If she feels fatigued studying, draw what she feels like drawing but mixed with what she's already studied. This is what I did when I thought myself to draw at age 25 and been a professional comic artist 4 years later. Same technique I used to teach my 2 boys, then at ages 18 and 16 and they can do comics 2 years later.
My Madureira-inspired 20 year old.
And my Samura-inspired 18 year old.
All good advice for my daughter on the drawing front. I'll be sure to pass it along.
Your kids' stuff is great. You're clearly a good teacher.
And yes, it was nerve damage that reduced the sensitivity of all my fingertips. For a while it was tingling pinpricks and no other sensation through both hands, but a lot of physical therapy helped that significantly.
I gradually taght myself to type again and even to play rythm guitar, but I have to be looking at my hands to do either of those things.
The detail work on the customs is really kind of a force of will exercise. Often I have to steady my painting hand against my chest or guide it with my other. I screw up a lot, but I've gotten pretty good at cleaning things up and/or starting over.
I think the reason I never threw myself back into drawing was because it frustrated me to know how good I was before the accident and not be able to perform at that level any more.
Somehow it was easier to take on totally new things - writing, guitar, customizing - and enjoy getting better at those.
