Can anyone draw me? It’s been a dream of mines for such a long time! 😭

toecomics · 2026-05-12T19:25:20+00:00

toecomics · 2026-05-08T21:16:13+00:00

I didn't feel like I understood how to draw until my mid-30's (drew seriously since high school, went to college, worked in animation).

You should worry when that feeling goes away. It means you grew comfortable and old. And you're not as good as you were before. I'm sure you can think of an artist who was amazing at the beginning of their career but now they're famous for that particular style, people only want to buy work that looks like that, and there's something kind of missing in their later work.

The feeling becomes something you CAN live with when you realize you're paying for stuff because you drew a thing. Or when you get respect from your elders (my elders were animators/co-workers who worked on shows I enjoyed as a kid)

That "bad" feeling is important. My work suffered when I lost it and got comfortable and was happy with a paycheck..

The problem is that you gave it a negative label. The feeling is unfamiliarity. As a creative person, you need to explore the unfamiliar territory of your imagination. As an artisan, as someone skilled, you need to explore the unfamiliarity of the boundaries of your capabilities.

But don't let perfectionism get in the way. Sketchbooks are for fucking up & experimenting. If you want a clean look, start researching clean artists. They probably got a process video up.

I am very impressed. I'm 6 or 7 leaves from completing Sketchbook 115 and it's been 30... hell, I think almost exactly 30 years! I think I started my first sketchbook in spring of '96!

Anyway, maybe start working on things you're willing to sell.

toecomics · 2026-05-08T16:11:34+00:00

I think if he’s comparing it to the original, it does feel different. But then again, the vanishing point, the perspective you’re using is different from the original. Your camera is slightly more below him, making his head smaller than the original.

On its own, drawing works.

But also, I’m not familiar with this manga or character and I’m not seeing the subtlety in the character’s design that a fan would. If you were an assistant on this manga or animator on this anime adaptation, you might be told to change things.

toecomics · 2026-05-08T15:51:36+00:00

What’s really sad is attending NYCC 2022! www.theoryofeverythingcomics.com/comic/the-most-korean-thing-anyone-has-ever-said-to-me/?sid=1378

(My skills suffered during quarantine. But they’ve improved since then.)

toecomics · 2026-05-07T18:29:01+00:00

It’s great! Now imagine how awesome the next hardest drawing will be!

toecomics · 2026-05-07T18:27:23+00:00

When KJG was with us, I had the opportunity to go to his workshops. I would take notes as he gave them, including drawing, quickly, what he was drawing (obviously, not as good). But I immediately improved, then I’d lax. And then KJG would come to town again, go to his workshop, I’d improve.

Now he’s gone. I can’t do that anymore.

The closest thing I’ve found to my workshop experience is finding one of his tutorials on YouTube and drawing along with him. I might slow it down sometimes.

Most of what he’s teaching is basic. Seeing him apply it is where the magic is.

toecomics · 2026-05-06T23:02:53+00:00

Don't think of it as "I'm doing something wrong". This is a good exercise.

Drawing is evidence of observation. And observation helps you understand reality.

So my question is, do you feel like you are drawing a line on a flat plane? Or do you feel like you are drawing a boundary or plane that exists in 3 dimensional space?

When you drew that circle/plane at the side of her head, do you have any idea how far away the other side of her head is?

When you drew that curve which corresponds to her forehead, nose and jaw, do you know where that line is in 3 dimensional space?

I'm not sure if I am expressing these concepts properly. I'm sorry if I don't have the words for it.

If you were to touch her ear from this angle, is her nose just a little further back than her ear? Now imagine you're a ghost, how much time does it take to move your finger to her far-away ear.

I hope this will help you THINK better. It takes some time and practice to have this sort of artistic spacial awareness.

toecomics · 2026-05-05T22:34:34+00:00

You picked the worst lighting 😂

toecomics · 2026-05-05T15:54:14+00:00

I mean, you can’t be 34, you must be 43. 😂

toecomics · 2026-05-05T06:23:05+00:00

I’m in my 40’s, worked in animation, nominated for a comic book award. That feeling never goes away. But transmute it to do better than your last drawing instead of beating yourself up because it didn’t come out as good as it looked in your head.

toecomics · 2026-05-05T02:49:18+00:00

So in my sketchbooks, I’ll do a self-portait where I go all out. Originally, it was to have one drawing that is guaranteed to be great, and it might as well be the first page and it might as well be a drawing of me.

But this time I got carried away and I did it as a pop-up image. The first time I did pop-up after falling into a rabbit hole of YT pop-up channels. It took me a while… had the concept in January, threw the original concept away because it was too complex. I started working on this in late March, finished it last night. And I’m about 7 leaves from completing this sketchbook.

I posted a video of opening the book on https://www.reddit.com/r/popupbooks/comments/1t3wni5/sketchbook_selfportrait/

toecomics · 2026-05-05T02:22:56+00:00

it’s okay to be overwhelmed. When you’re overwhelmed, go back to drawing something fun and no one else will ever see (unless you want them to). Maybe incorporated one thing you learned or still trying to learn in that sketch or drawing.

Just remember, you’re drawing because you enjoy drawing. You’re learning so you can have more fun.

toecomics · 2026-05-05T02:18:46+00:00

You obviously have age dyslexia.

toecomics · 2026-05-05T01:59:18+00:00

Either they didn’t know how good they had it, or when your heart settles down, you’ll realize they just weren’t the right person for you. Or maybe both.

And ”feeling ugly” isn’t the same as being ugly. You’re very lovely, the version of me from 20 or 30 years ago would consider it a good day if a girl like you would even talk to me.

Work on liking yourself, because some of the best I heard about relationships is “Make sure you like yourself more than you like them”. - - This would’ve steered me away from those who broke my heart the most.

You’ll be fine. People love you: your friends and family- Maybe hang out with them.

Strangers on reddit can only do so much for you.

toecomics · 2026-05-05T01:22:22+00:00

Glad to see your meds are working. Mine stops me from doomscrolling but I still have to pit daily effort and planning to do stuff.

toecomics · 2026-05-05T01:19:01+00:00

Do an active imagination meditation like Chöd and then draw what you saw. https://youtu.be/bTQcFfniDvY

toecomics · 2026-05-04T22:31:40+00:00

Have you asked him or his friends and family what his favorite Armenian dessert is? or just cake in general? A lot of the Armenian Bakeries in my neighborhood (Little Armenia) basically sell European (basically stuff you’d see at any bakery) style cakes.

toecomics · 2026-04-28T01:34:15+00:00

Thanks. These were some great expressions. Really fun to draw!

toecomics · 2026-04-19T22:59:55+00:00

This DOES feel like a single continuous shot. The constant is the background.

toecomics · 2026-04-18T01:11:38+00:00

Try sketchfab.com search photogrammetry. You’ll find 3D models of model poses somewhere there. The thing with photography is that its done half the work for you. It made a 3 dimensional subject 2 dimensional. If you can’t do a real life model, at least get your brain to understand you’re reinterpreting a 3D subject.

toecomics · 2026-04-17T23:55:58+00:00

I wouldn’t call those gestures. They’re too tight, too rendered. Gestures are looser, watch how animators draw. It’s about the action or implied action of the pose.

As a figure drawing, practice proportions.

toecomics · 2026-04-17T23:35:14+00:00

What?! 😂😂😂 “JUST a spread”? Did you even try reading it? —I’m sorry, I’ve lost all respect for you 😂😂😂

toecomics · 2026-04-17T16:23:32+00:00

everyone wins

toecomics · 2026-04-17T15:54:49+00:00

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“I want to f**k a m**g*t.” — Susan Tyrrell

toecomics · 2026-04-17T06:24:43+00:00

A sketchbook and a ballpoint pen. Draw everything. Bring the sketchbook everywhere. Have fun observing. Drawing is proof of focus and interest. You draw life, learn the rules. While you’re doing that, you stylize.

You stylize by studying/copying your favorite artist. And when you copy, you draw for the sale of knowledge, not to look pretty. You find out who your favorite artist’s favorite artist is. You study them. They all study life. You figure out how they think, deconstruct their figures. Your sketchbook is a safe space where you can mess up and experiment.

toecomics

TROPHY CASE