Pacifier - Sketch Process & Flats

WOW this sketch has kicked my butt...

As my last art-related post said, I thought I'd benefit from working faster on simpler images for a while. So, after making that post I dove into Clip Studio and started sketching - a simple scene - a nurse figure, a patient and some kind of large sensory-deprivation helmet.

I drew it and didn't feel satisfied - it didn't give me a weird edgy feeling and there was a big empty space right in the middle of the composition that didn't feel right.  After a few more sketches and iterations I dropped the helmet idea and went for something more peculiar - inspired by those outsized Animegao Kigurumi masks which brought in that 'edge' I was seeking.

Then, to tackle the big empty space, I relented and introduced a second nurse character into the scene (so much for keeping things simple, limiting characters, etc, etc.)

After that, I decided to go for it - I was on-track for something closer to the more complex paintings I've been doing of late, so decided to clad our patient in some frilled transparent latex, to up the ante on the whole piece.

At that, I blasted ahead with the flats, realising at that point that the composition, with the nurse outfits I'd chosen (I love this look) made the piece reflect my Nurse P piece from last August...so I flipped everything...

Time now to crack on with the painting over the weekend, having learned a few things about myself and my process and where it's at right now:

• Go in with a stronger plan for the piece - you'll still burn thinking time trying to wrangle something edgy into the ongoing sketch otherwise
• Don't worry about adding too many details in the backgrounds - it's what you do - so embrace it

Back soon with an update.  Oh, and, didn't mention it before - I broke my wrist while out running a few weeks back - only about 2 more weeks to go for the cast to come off.  Rather looking forward to that - it's manageable but kinda cramps my flow.

Happy Friday Everyone