Recreations vs. Original work
So folks who've been watching me for a while have probably noticed that for the last 3 years or so, I've pretty much only been posting recreation work rather than my own original comics or illustrations. Every so often I feel like I should be doing more 'original' work in my own style, like a comic or even more book illustrations. However, I've been kind of depressed and/or anxious for a lot of the last year or so - mostly for fairly obvious reasons (insert various pictures of 2020/21 here), and an assortment of pretty basic personal anxieties. Doing original work takes a heck of a lot of energy and enthusiasm that I just haven't had for a while, doing compositions, layouts, etc. really takes a lot out of me. Yet, I still feel soothed by the act of inking - it's a great anxiety relief - so I keep myself busy doing recreations. Luckily enough I've had a steady client wait list for 3 years running, so I've always got something to work on. It's also a good way to have steady funds for picking up collectables & art (having something in the mail to look forward to: another way to fight off depression), and also put money towards local houseless outreach by buying supplies for camps - a never-ending battle.
Anyhow, it'd been 3 years since my last post here on DA, I'd been kind of just putting up scans without much other interaction. I've noticed a lot of new watchers, thanks for checking out my inking!
Summer Cover Recreation Commissions
Now that I've completed both of my last two big illustration assignments, I've decided I'm going to spend the next few months doing cover recreations only...and then pick up some more book illustration assignments in late Fall.
All art/logos/trade dress are inked on an 11x17 board, no pasteups, in order to simulate a full-sized piece of original art. My method is to lightbox all logos and trade dress with Pitt pens with the exception of the UPC box - I leave that out and continue the artwork "underneath" it where applicable. Then, I lightbox the artwork contours in pencil in order to ensure placement. Lastly, I ink the artwork freehand with a Raphael Kolinsky 8084 brush and dark india ink, typically while holding a copy of the actual comic in my other hand for reference. I strive to reproduce the original ink lines as closely as I can with my brush.
Price includes free USPS first class shipping to the USA - the art board will be slipped into an 11x17 polybag and rolled inside a sturdy 4" diameter mailing tube. Sorry, no international shipping is available.
I was OK with this for a while, and did them for a couple of years. I felt an ego boost from having folks enjoy my work and be willing to pay for it, but eventually wasn't real happy with the subject matter and ceased doing fetish-style work about ten years ago.
At the same time, I would post the work here on DA, and they would get a *ton* of views and faves.. which is also gratitifying. As years went by, I found that I wasn't super proud of a lot of the work I had posted due to the subject matter, and I'd also improved as an artist/inker to the point of disliking my earlier work because it wasn't as well done.
I removed a goodly chunk of the more risque pieces from my gallery, but left a few milder ones... which still get a few favorites a month, many years later. These faves still feed my ego, but the work is so far removed from the quality of work I do now, that even the more innocuous ones make me cringe when I see them.
Also, those faves mean people are seeing that work, enjoying it, and might even enjoy my more recent work, which is pretty mild in comparison.
Anyway, I think I've convinced myself while writing this into doing another purge of the rest of that stuff from my gallery... it's just not 'me' anymore. Even though a few of them have tens of thousands of views.
Question for Copic/Blick marker users
For those of you who use markers on your ink work, is it better to color *after* the inking is done, or color over the pencils and *then* ink?
I'm hoping that they work well over existing ink, as that'd be easiest for me at my novice coloring level... but I'd love to hear techniques or suggestions, thanks!
Deviantart Birthday Quiz
- How long have you been on DeviantArt?
Nearly 10 years. Seems like longer!
- What does your username mean?
Dalgoda was one of my favorite indy comics from the 80s, and I used to draw little cartoon heads of the character on napkins when I'd go to a restaurant. At some point I tried using it as a username on a website years ago, and was told it was not available, hence 'Dalgoda7'.
- Describe yourself in three words.
Cartoonist. Daydreamer. Obsessed.
- Are you left or right handed?
Left for mousing, right everything else.
- What was your first deviation?
A scratchboard of a theme I'd done years prior, combining Captain America with the Red Skull.
- What is your favourite type of art to create?
Fully inked & lettered comic pages, although I have to admit I really love doing cover recreation inking exercises even though they're not 'my' art.
- If you could instantly master a different art style, what would it be?
Digital coloring.
- What was your first favourite?
This 'beauty', I can barely remember that far back!
- What type of art do you tend to favourite the most?
I tend to favorite other black and white comic art the most, it's my favorite.
- Who is your all-time favourite deviant artist?
Huh, I can't pick just one, but over the years I think I've become pretty decent pals with cluedog , LarryKingUndead , besnglist , and curtsibling , exchanging art or collaborating on projects, etc. There are a dozen or so more folks on here where I like everything they do.
- If you could meet anyone on DeviantArt in person, who would it be?
At least the four nice folks above, along with a few more.
- How has a fellow deviant impacted your life?
LarryKingUndead and I have collaborated on what I would call some of my finest work to date. At some point we'll be printing that work as a book. I think that's a pretty decent impact! When I win the lottery, he's first on my list to bring into the comic book creator compound that I'll build in Portland.
- What are your preferred tools to create art?
Raphael 8404 brush, Koh-i-noor drawing ink, Strathmore 300 bristol paper. Photoshop, for constructing layouts.
- What is the most inspirational place for you to create art?
Just at my boring 'ol drafting table/studio.
Getting a Daily Deviation for
was pretty darn awesome.