EMG-Zine is an interesting artists’ and writers’ resource I discovered this year. It’s an e-zine that features illustrations, fiction, and instructive articles based on monthly themes. I’ve submitted work a few times times this year and below is my latest illustration for November’s theme of ‘Frogs.’
I love working from word and theme prompts; frogs are not something I usually draw (or would think of drawing) so it’s fun to take on a project that pushes me to try something new. I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to convey enough ‘emotion’ without making him look too cartoony but I think his irritation comes across fairly well.
I’m also very proud of the background. I don’t have much practice with drawing environments but I need to improve quickly for the sake of my comic (among other things) so I spent a lot of time on this one and studied tutorials and experimented with different brushes and opacities and a bunch of other things I’ve never done before. I still have a long way to go but, yay!, progress!
So, if you’re in a creative rut, check out EMG’s monthly themes (they’re posted several months in advance). Might just be the spark you need!
~Dalliann